An Irish MEP has strongly criticised a decision by the European Commission to delay the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation by 12 months.
The new regulation means that companies will only be allowed to sell products in the EU if the supplier provides a “due diligence” statement confirming that the product does not come from deforested land or has led to forest degradation after December 31, 2020.
The EU Commission said that the additional 12 months would serve as a “phasing-in period” to ensure proper and effective implementation of the regulation.
Deforestation
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has slammed the move stating that the regulation is a key commitment as part of the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Farm to Fork Strategy.
“The European Commission is backsliding on commitments under the European Green Deal and scaling down our climate and biodiversity ambition when we need to be rapidly scaling up.
“I am deeply concerned that this decision was taken to pave the way for the ratification of Mercosur.
“We know that Mercosur is a rotten trade deal that will do huge damage to people and planet.
“Irish environmentalists and Irish farmers have made it clear that they are opposed to Mercosur and Sinn Féin have consistently called on the Irish government to formally notify the European Commission of Ireland’s opposition to this deal,” Boylan said.
The Sinn Féin MEP added that the EU Commission “seems set on ramming through Mercosur at a time when Brazil is attempting to reverse deforestation rates”.
“Greenpeace have highlighted that Mercosur is inconsistent with EU law because ratifying it will lead to increased emissions.
“The public deserve better than a commission willing to place profit over the livelihoods of European farmers and the over our planet.
“Deforestation is one of the greatest environmental catastrophes of our time and rolling back on regulations meant to prevent the destruction of the world’s forests denies the reality of the climate and biodiversity crisis and will set us back at a time when we need to be moving forward,” she said.
MEP Boylan has strongly urged the EU Commission to reconsider “this disastrous move” and fully implement the regulation as planned.