South America also calls for EUDR course adjustment
It is also still unclear whether the EU Commission will complete the three-stage country benchmarking system in time for the end of the year
BRASILIA, September 7, 2024 – The German Timber Trade Association [GD Holz] wants European Union [EU] Commission to postpone the date of application of the European Union Deforestation Regulation [ EUDR ]. The reason for this is that the EU Commission is still behind schedule with urgently needed assistance. Contrary to its own statement, the EUDR FAQ has not yet been published – although it was announced for May in April – nor has the planned guide to the new regulation been made available.
It is also still unclear whether the EU Commission will complete the three-stage country benchmarking system in time for the end of the year. “Country benchmarking could significantly simplify due diligence obligations by classifying some relevant supplier countries as ‘low risk’. If the benchmarking is not available in time, all countries would have to be assessed as ‘normal risk’ first. This would lead to additional bureaucratic work that companies could easily avoid,” says Nils Olaf Petersen, Secretary General of the European Timber Trade Association ETTF.
GD Holz has repeatedly stressed the urgency of these three elements and, together with the ETTF, called for a postponement of the application of the EUDR if they cannot be made available in time. However, this has not only been strongly demanded by the timber trade; other sectors and relevant supplier countries are also in favour of a postponement.
supplier countries are outraged
For example, the agriculture ministers of six South American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, recently wrote to Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, asking for the application of the EUDR to be postponed.
In their message, these countries recalled their significant involvement in European trade and stressed that they were “outraged by the EU’s unilateral decision”. The letter also pointed out that the EUDR does not sufficiently take into account local capacity for implementation.
The South American countries also pointed out the risk that small producers could be excluded due to the high costs of the mechanisms to be introduced – a criticism that GD Holz expressly shares and also sees on the side of importers.
Words must be put into action
When asked about this issue on August 22nd, the EU Commission spokesman limited himself to saying that “the Commission is doing everything in its power to ensure that everything is ready on time”. “The EU Commission must now finally put its words into action if the EUDR is to be applied in companies as planned from December 30th. Otherwise, timely preparation is associated with massive uncertainty and blatant additional work,” said DG Wood Managing Director Thomas Goebel.
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