DODOMA, September 11, 2024 – The Tanzania Coffee Board [TCB] is launching a comprehensive registration of all coffee farmers across the country to protect its access to the European Union [EU] coffee market, according to The Citizen. This comes in response to new EU regulations requiring coffee imported into Europe must not contribute to environmental degradation.
The EU Regulations on Deforestation-Free Products [EUDR] require coffee placed or made available on the EU market or exported from it as of Dec 30, 2024, to be produced on land that was not deforested after Dec 31, 2020, and in accordance with relevant national local legislations.
Several countries have expressed concerns about financial and technical challenges to roll out the traceability system of coffee in compliance with the EUDR. Importers of coffee have threatened to halt existing contracts and not enter new ones for non-compliance, which can have negative consequences for farmers. The registration process will commence in September and run through to January 2025, aiming to ensure that all coffee farms are officially recognised and their operations are environmentally sustainable.
The European Union accounts for about 50 percent of Tanzania’s coffee exports, making compliance with the new environmental regulation crucial for maintaining the market.
Kimaryo stressed that all coffee farmers must be registered as part of efforts to demonstrate that Tanzania’s coffee production does not contribute to deforestation or environmental damage. To fast-track the registration process, Kimaryo called for cooperation from local councils in coffee-growing regions to assist in ensuring that all farmers are documented before the January 2025 deadline.
The registration process will involve collaboration between the government and other stakeholders, including agricultural officers, cooperative officers, and university students. The success of this process will not only safeguard Tanzania’s access to the EU market but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable coffee industry.
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