Czechia renews calls to postpone EU anti-deforestation law

The Czech Agriculture Ministry has asked the European Commission to delay the application of the EU's new anti-deforestation law, arguing that its impact on businesses is unclear.

According to the Czech ministry, businesses are unprepared as they lack information about the conditions they need to meet.

"The impact on individual companies and supply chains is difficult to estimate at this time. In order to minimise potential negative effects, the Commission needs to publish and give sufficient time for all actors to familiarise themselves with the key tools needed to implement the Regulation,” the press office of the Czech Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday (28 August).

“As this has not yet been done, we, like many other EU member states, request that the implementation of the Regulation be postponed," the ministry added, as quoted by the Czech News Agency.

In addition to Czechia, Austria, Finland, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden have previously sought to postpone the legislation.

Similar calls were also made by the European People’s Party (EPP) before the summer recess. Now, Czechia has joined the club, arguing that its companies are struggling and need more time and proper guidelines to comply.

The Czech ministry also noted that despite several requests, the European Commission has not yet started negotiations to postpone the regulation.

The regulation aims to reduce the EU's contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation. It will affect companies that produce, process or market products made from coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soy, beef, rubber and timber. Companies will have to collect and report the data and coordinates of the land on which they produce these commodities and then record them in a European information system.

The law came into force in June 2023, but the key parts will not be implemented until 30 December 2024. Small businesses will have to comply from 30 June 2025.

[Edited by Daniel Eck/Martina Monti]