The Brazilian government on Thursday said it could not interfere with a landmark EU law banning imports of commodities linked to deforestation, but plans to keep farming according to its own laws.
The law approved by the European Parliament on April 19 bans imports of coffee, beef, soy, palm oil, cocoa, rubber, wood and charcoal if they are linked to forest destruction, including deforestation-derived products such as leather, chocolate and furniture.
Surging deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has raised concerns in Europe in recent years and generated resistance in European legislatures to trade with the South American country.
Photo: AFP
Brazil’s agribusiness sector has said the country — which as a major soy, coffee and beef producer is one of the world’s largest food suppliers — already regulates deforestation under its forest code, which allows some areas to be cleared.
“Brazil cannot interfere in a decision taken by the European Union on products linked to deforestation. We will continue to act in accordance with Brazilian legislation,” Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply Carlos Favaro told reporters.
Former Brazilian agriculture minister Roberto Rodriguez said the law amounts to a non-tariff trade barrier, calling it “exaggerated protectionism.”
He said the world needs to act to preserve the environment, but the EU was ignoring the laws of other nations and punishing producers who have complied with their own laws.
“This will not preserve anything in Brazil, it is a purely commercial measure,” Rodrigues said. “If preservation of the environment is so important, set up a mechanism to finance it instead of punishing those who did nothing illegal.”
The law, which has not yet been formally endorsed by the European Council, would require companies that sell goods into the EU to produce a due diligence statement and “verifiable” information proving that their goods were not grown on land deforested after 2020, or risk hefty fines.
The EU is the world’s third-largest palm oil importer. Indonesia and Malaysia — the world’s largest exporters — have accused it of blocking access to their products.
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