30 Oct 2024 11:22:17 am
Environmental Ecology
EU’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EU-DR)
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EU’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EU-DR)
Topic: International Laws
Why in the news?
- The EU will go ahead with the implementation of its controversial EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) from December 30, as planned, despite strong protests from countries including India, Brazil, Indonesia and the U.S. at the WTO.
Source: The Hindu
About EU’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EU-DR):
- It is a European Union regulation that aims to counter deforestation by requiring companies registered in the EU that import or export specific items (list of 479 for India) have not been produced on land that was deforested after December 31, 2020.
- The EU-DR covers seven primary commodities and a variety of products derived from these. While the main commodities are cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood, the derived commodities are several such as meat products, leather, chocolate, coffee, palm nuts, palm oil derivatives, glycerol, natural rubber products, soybeans, soy-bean flour and oil, fuel wood, wood products, pulp and paper and printed books.
- India’s opposition to EU-DR:
- There is criticism that this is just a form of non-tariff barrier to trade, as the EU itself has reduced its primary forest cover to increase agricultural output before the said date, and now is not allowing other countries to do the same as they struggle with population pressure on resources.
- India’s stand is that it violates Most Favored Nation (MFN)and National Treatment principles. This is the second such measure by the EU after its Cross Border Adjustment Mechanism. It is estimated that both together are likely to adversely affect exports from India to the EU worth $9.5 billion.
- In its reply to India’s queries, the EU said that no commodities or countries will be subject to discrimination, and the regulation will apply equally to commodities and products produced inside and outside the EU.
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