Global Deforestation Regulations – How EU and US Initiatives Will Reshape Global Supply Chains

The EU Deforestation Regulation has entered into force and will prohibit the placing of relevant commodities and products on to the EU market or exported out of the EU if not deforestation-free and complying with the legislation of the country of production. Various actors in the supply chains of the concerned commodities will face strict due diligence rules, underpinned with verifiable data, and effective checks by authorities.

Similarly, the US is currently progressing the Forest Act of 2023, which would require importers of certain specified products identified as being at high risk for contributing to illegal deforestation to certify they have mitigated the risks that their product was produced on land that has been subjected to illegal deforestation.

Relevant products containing, fed with or made using relevant commodities and their derivatives are concerned, including:

• Wood
• Beef
• Palm oil
• Soy
• Coffee
• Cocoa
• Rubber

During our webinar we discussed the updates on the status of the adoption and implementation of those regulations, and browsed the regulatory framework set up and the associated legal challenges.