"Statement of support from businesses for an effective EU law to halt the trade in commodities and products linked to deforestation and conversion"

We, the undersigned companies, are deeply concerned by the ongoing destruction of natural forests and other natural ecosystems globally and its contribution to climate change, biodiversity loss and human rights violations. The continued destruction and degradation of nature directly and negatively affects agricultural production and other economic activities, impacting markets and human well-being. Unfair competition, based on products linked to destructive management practices, harms those companies committed to acting responsibly on the European market.

We welcome the European Commission’s initiative to reduce the impact of products placed on the EU market on deforestation, ecosystem conversion and nature degradation as well as the actions laid out in the EU Communication (2019) on “Stepping up EU action to protect and restore the world’s forests” as a good start. As companies committed to responsible supply chains, we believe that effective EU legislation is urgently needed to tackle this problem – establishing a level playing field for more sustainable commodities and products to be placed on the EU market.

We therefore consider it important that the European Union adopts a robust law that minimises the risk of conversion and degradation of natural ecosystems (alongside deforestation and the degradation of natural forests) as well as human rights violations, associated with commodities and products placed on the EU market.

We urge the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Member States to integrate the following elements into a new cross-commodity EU regulation, as they reflect our own ambitions and can ensure that the new law is effective and beneficial for nature, people and business:

• Requirements for increased supply chain transparency and traceability for all companies. [...]
• Development of a clear legislative framework including a due diligence obligation, taking into account the experience of different stakeholders and based on objective and scientific criteria. [...]
• Include the finance sector and institutions financing commodities and products. [...]
• Address both deforestation and the conversion of other natural ecosystems as well as their degradation. [...]
• Ensure that new legislation is implemented and enforced in a harmonised way across the EU. [...]