BONN, Germany – Fairtrade International is encouraged by the European Commission’s latest proposal to change course and not delay the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for all companies, signalling its commitment to safeguard the world’s forests.
The proposal would lessen the burden on micro and small primary operators, therefore shifting the asymmetrical power imbalances in international trade and supply chains.
However, the changes proposed still do not adequately support many of the smallholder farmers outside of the European Union – the millions who are not from low-risk countries and who do not sell directly on the EU market. These farmers are still negatively impacted by the bureaucratic burden of complex regulatory compliance.
Fairtrade’s commitment to protecting forests predates the EUDR and includes our long-held belief that forests are an essential component of sustainable trade and supply chains. Fairtrade continues to advocate for an approach that prioritises the urgent protection of forests while considering the practicalities of the EUDR implementation.
The reality is that many producers need financial, technical, and other interventions to allow them to take ownership of the objectives of the EUDR. Fairtrade producer networks continue to provide hands-on support to producer organisations with their preparations, but more needs to be done to reach all those affected by the regulation.
Fairtrade’s Standards require traders to support their suppliers with their deforestation prevention efforts, whether through sharing geolocation data, funding the adoption of agroecological practices, reforesting, or financial contributions to such efforts in lieu of facilitating them directly.
Fairtrade urges legislators discussing the Commission’s proposal in the coming days and weeks to actively consider best practices in line with smallholder farmer needs. Therefore, strengthening implementation of the EUDR in a fairer way.
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