Listen to the news

The European Union will ban imports of products such as coffee, wood and palm oil if forests have been cut down for their production after 2020.

The law, which will apply within 18 to 24 months, comes into force after EU countries formally adopted the measure today following negotiations with the European Parliament.

German Development Minister Svenja Schulze hailed the law, calling it a "milestone".

The aim of the import ban is to significantly reduce the deforestation of rainforests around the world, including in the Amazon region of South America.

"The main driver of global deforestation and forest degradation is the expansion of farmland," EU member states said in a statement.

According to the European Parliament, 10% of deforestation between 1990 and 2020 was attributable to EU consumers.

Under the new legislation, companies will be required to issue due diligence declarations that no forest has been cut down or damaged for the needs of their products after 31 December 2020. This also applies to derived products such as chocolate, furniture or printed paper.

Infringements are punishable by at least 4 per cent of the annual turnover of the company concerned in the EU.

Greenpeace Organizes Major Protest Against Logging in Białowieża Forest in Poland

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has called for Germany's control bodies, such as customs, to be significantly strengthened so that violations can actually be punished.

Forests

Prohibited Imports