🔗 Share this article EU Anti-Deforestation Regulation Effectively 'Dismantled' Despite High Hopes Originally hailed as a landmark law that would combat the global crisis of deforestation. However, the revised version of the EU's deforestation regulation, previously heralded as the flagship policy of the European Green Deal, has emerged in a severely weakened state, leading to criticism from its original architect and green lawmakers. "It has been hollowed out," said the law's original author, citing the exclusion of key obligations for downstream traders to check the origin of products like coffee, cocoa, beef, soy, palm oil, rubber and timber. He warned that a reduced number of responsible companies, fewer data points, and less precise origin data would make enforcement and prosecution more difficult. A Watered-Down Law Environmental vice-president Marie Toussaint went further, labeling the delays, loopholes and exemptions – including one for printed products – as the "political dismantling" of the law. This final text is a far cry from the hopes of more than a million European citizens who supported an initiative in 2020 calling for a prohibition of deforestation-linked products. When launched in 2021, then-Green Deal commissioner the European commissioner called it "the most ambitious legislation ever put forward to fight deforestation." From Ambition to Compromise The law's unravelling has been interpreted as the European Union retreating from its environmental promises. The proposal encountered two major postponements, ostensibly over IT issues, which drew condemnation. "By reopening this file rather than fixing a technical issue, authorities invited political interference," commented the Green MEP. Originally, the regulation mandated that firms to track goods back to their specific geographic origin using geolocation data, making them liable for forest loss along their supply lines with penalties and hefty fines. "It wasn't bureaucracy for its own sake," Schally explained. "It was the mechanism that made the rules enforceable, created a verifiable paper trail, and stopped companies from hiding behind complex supply chains." Intense Lobbying However, the strict due diligence provoked opposition in Brussels from multinational corporations, exporting nations, rightwing parties and EU logging states. Analysts point to last year's EU elections as a decisive moment, shifting the balance of power less favorable toward environmental rules. "The other pressure has come from big trading partners like the United States," noted expert Andreas Rasche, suggesting the commission gave in to some requests during negotiations. The Weakened Final Text In the final legislation includes key dilutions: Retailers and traders were mostly exempted from submitting due diligence statements. A new “low risk” category was introduced. A option for more reductions was opened for next spring. Only a handful of nations – geopolitical adversaries of the EU – will face “high risk” scrutiny. "Rather than strengthening downstream obligations, it stripped them back," said Schally. "Moving obligations upstream, it lessened the number of responsible firms." Uncertainty for Companies The delays and changes have also created annoyance for businesses that complied early. "It is very frustrating because we put a lot of effort into complying," stated a coffee company executive. "We invested in software, followed seminars and built a team... now they’re saying it could be altered again. It’s a big frustration." Official Defense A commission spokesperson supported the final law, saying: "The commission has responded to concerns and taken action to ensure a pragmatic and balanced implementation." "The revised regulation ensures stability, which is crucial for companies and national regulators to effectively enforce this vitally important regulation."