🔗 Share this article EU Anti-Deforestation Law Largely 'Watered Down' After Initial Fanfare Originally hailed as a groundbreaking piece of legislation that would curb the worldwide crisis of forest loss. However, the revised version of the EU's anti-deforestation law, once touted as the flagship policy of the Green Deal, has been passed in a severely weakened state, leading to criticism from its initial author and green lawmakers. "The regulation was hollowed out," said the law's original author, pointing to the removal of key obligations for downstream traders to verify the provenance of products like coffee, cocoa, beef, soy, palm oil, rubber and timber. He warned that a reduced number of responsible companies, less information collected, and less precise origin data would hinder monitoring and legal action. Political Dismantling Green party MEP Marie Toussaint was more blunt, labeling the delays, loopholes and exemptions – including one for printed products – as the "systematic weakening" of the law. This final text stands in stark contrast to the demands of over 1.2 million European citizens who signed a petition in 2020 calling for a ban on deforestation-linked products. At its launch in 2021, then-Green Deal commissioner Frans Timmermans called it "the toughest law proposed to combat deforestation." A Story of Dilution The regulation's dilution is seen by critics as the European Union retreating from its green talk. The proposal encountered significant delays, reportedly over IT issues, which drew condemnation. "By reopening this file instead of solving a simple IT problem, authorities invited political interference," remarked Toussaint. Originally, the law required companies to track goods back to their specific geographic origin using GPS coordinates, holding them accountable for deforestation in their supply chains with criminal charges and large financial penalties. "This was not red tape for its own sake," the former official explained. "These rules were the tool that made the rules enforceable, established traceability, and prevented firms from obscuring their activities behind opaque production networks." Intense Lobbying However, the rigorous checks triggered a backlash in Brussels from multinational corporations, exporting nations, rightwing parties and member states with forestry industries. Analysts point to last year's European Parliament elections as a turning point, shifting the balance of power more skeptical of green regulations. "Additional intense pressure has come from major export markets like the United States," said expert Andreas Rasche, implying the EU yielded to some demands in trade talks. Key Loopholes Introduced In the final legislation features key dilutions: Retailers and traders were largely freed from submitting due diligence statements. A new exemption for small operators was created. A option for more reductions was opened for next spring. Only a handful of nations – Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Myanmar – will face “high risk” scrutiny. "Instead of tightening rules for companies, it rolled them back," said the law's author. "By shifting responsibilities to producers, it reduced accountability." Uncertainty for Companies The protracted process and revisions have also caused frustration for businesses that complied early. "We feel very annoyed because we invested significant resources into complying," said 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 major letdown." Official Defense A commission spokesperson defended the outcome, saying: "We have listened to concerns and acted to ensure a simple, fair and cost-efficient application." "The new text provides for predictability, which is crucial for companies and competent authorities to effectively enforce this very important regulation."