Will landmark EUDR frameworks buckle under the weight of political pressure?

This past week, the European Union’s flagship deforestation legislation known as the EUDR appeared under greater pressure from those opposed to its introduction than ever.

The stakes remain unbelievably high, in that having spent years in thrashing out the details of a landmark policy that would for the first time compel businesses to maintain mandatory environmental performance standards, it seems the tide is turning against these critical frameworks.

While the cocoa trade, and other key agricultural sectors are far from the only offenders in terms of negatively contributing to forest loss, there’s no denying that they have been part of the problem over the past five decades, along with a tide of other issues, including major logging operations, and the ever-concerning march of illegal gold mining in the West African regions of Ghana and Ivory Coast.

As Confectionery Production reported recently, significant concern has already been raised by industry observers and environmental groups including Mighty Earth, as well as many major players within the confectionery sector, that urgent introduction of clear policies designed to foster greater environmental policies, alongside ensuring heightened social rights for all within commodities value chains, including farmers, had to be delivered without any further political wrangling.

However, a huge spanner in the works was unleashed with (an albeit non-binding) European Parliament vote that appeared to set the process back significantly, through demonstrating  that there was now a narrow, very vocal majority in favour of seeking yet further amendments to the much-anticipated EUDR frameworks – which have already been delayed by a year after intense political and industrial lobbying.

A further twist emerged when Mondelez declared that it was seeking to extend the already delayed process for a further year on the grounds “that it could damage a €70 billion industry’s competitiveness” which in truth seems  at odds with its stated aims on sustainability policies of targeting environmental gains in its supply chains. It has since claimed that it does still back the introduction of the legislation, but argues that more time is needed on the ground for its implementation. But in truth, there will never be a politically or economically ideal moment to bring this mega legislation into being.

Indeed, its move places it at odds with other major companies including Mars and Nestle that had recently signed a letter urging the legislation to be moved forward as soon as possible without additional delays.

Clearly, the fly in the ointment in this situation is the unwelcome arrival of US tariffs within the past six months that have left many countries and corporations around the world particularly nervous about precisely what they will be left to pick up the tab with in terms of additional costs of operating.

As I’ve noted before, the introduction of the EUDR and its parallel due diligence frameworks (which are also facing delays in the EU Parliament), was intended to create a far more level playing field for the entire industry, not just the elite privileged few. 

However, the consistent chipping away at the EU Commission’s frameworks from right wing political groups in the EU, as well as from a limited number of industrial groups, has seen the whole EUDR initiative being underlined – perhaps fatally if any further pushbacks on its proposed timelines are successfully lobbied for by groups that have prioritised profits over the planet and its people. The next couple of months are going to be especially crucial on this – will the Commission hold firm, or will it bow to commercial pressures. For the environment’s sake, let us hope it is the former.

Neill Barston, editor, Confectionery Production magazine

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