By Kate Abnett
BRUSSELS, July 13 (Reuters) – EU imports of palm oil derivatives will face the bloc’s anti-deforestation rules from December 2027, while leather will be exempted from the law, the European Commission said on Monday.
• The EU’s deforestation law will require companies selling goods including soy, coffee, beef, and palm oil into the EU to prove their products did not cause deforestation.
• Brussels had already delayed the launch of the policy by two years, after opposition from Brazil, Indonesia and the United States, which say complying would be costly and hurt their exports to Europe.
• In the latest suite of changes, the Commission confirmed it will remove from the law leather, cattle hides and skins, re-treaded tyres, soybeans for sowing, and items including car seats.
• At the same time, the EU will add palm oil derivatives used to manufacture oleochemicals, which are compounds derived from natural fats and oils used in paints, pharmaceuticals, lubricants and food additives.
• Instant coffee and frozen cattle tongues will also be added.
• The latest additions will take effect from December 30, 2027.
• The changes are a win for the leather industry, which had argued that as a by-product of the meat industry, leather’s production does not incentivise the cattle farming that drives deforestation.
• Environmental groups wanted leather to remain on the list.
• The Commission also published adjustments to the information-technology systems that companies use to comply with the law. Last year, the Commission cited concerns about the readiness of these systems as the reason it delayed the law by another year.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett, editing by Andrei Khalip)
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