They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and there is perhaps no better example than the widely criticized European Union law banning imports of goods linked to deforestation. No one likes the modern measure, which is due to come into effect next year. Major corporations like Lavazza dislike it for reasons that are surely entirely altruistic and have nothing to do with their bottom line or the need to disclose unethical purchasing practices. And NGOs supporting farmers dislike the law because of the damaging impact it could have on vulnerable farmers who lack the necessary infrastructure to demonstrate that their crops are not leading to deforestation.
While the intentions were good, the EU law has been met with nothing but resistance since the measure was first announced for implementation in 2021. And now International Coffee Organization (ICO) – the world’s largest coffee organisation – has asked the EU to postpone the entry into force of the law.
Once the modern law comes into effect, imported goods such as chocolate, leather, beef, furniture, rubber, charcoal, palm oil derivatives and coffee will have to provide proof that they are not linked to deforestation in order to be allowed to enter Europe. Any company caught importing goods without such proof will face weighty penalties, and there are even fears that coffee harvested before the requirement is introduced could be thrown out.
As reported Reuters AgencyIn response, the ICO is asking for the modern law to be suspended to give its members more time to comply. “We can’t meet that deadline, it’s impossible,” says ICO Director Vanusia Nogueira. “It’s a very ambitious deadline.”
The ICO, an “intergovernmental group affiliated with the United Nations” that represents more than 90% of global coffee production, hopes that by working with the EU it can find a solution that doesn’t negatively impact the most vulnerable. “We think that by working with (EU leaders) they might be more open to moving that date forward,” Nogueira says.
Neither Nogueira nor the ICO have provided any information on the date until which they would like to delay the entry into force of the modern law.
The ICO joins the European Coffee Federation and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in asking for a postponement. There are now less than 100 days until the law comes into force.
