Brazil has called on the European Union to halt the implementation of a ban on imports linked to deforestation, describing the new regulations as “punitive.”
The EU law, set to come into effect in December, will prohibit the import of a wide range of goods—including coffee, cocoa, soy, timber, palm oil, cattle, printing paper, and rubber—if they were produced on land deforested after December 2020.
The Brazilian government expressed “serious concern” over the legislation, as the country is a key supplier of many of the affected products.
“To avoid damaging our trade relations, we urge the EU to delay implementation beyond 2024 and urgently reconsider its approach,” Brazil stated in a letter to the European Commission, shared with AFP on Thursday.
The letter, signed by Brazil’s foreign affairs and agriculture ministers, echoes concerns raised by the U.S. and other nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa about the burden the law places on farmers and the forestry sector.
Within the EU, agriculture ministers from around 20 member states, including Austria and Finland, warned in April that the law could impose bureaucratic obstacles, potentially harming investment and distorting competition. The largest bloc in the European Parliament has also called for a delay.
Brazil criticized the legislation as a “unilateral and punitive measure” that ignores national laws aimed at curbing deforestation, adding that it raises production and export costs, especially for small farmers.
The European Commission confirmed receipt of Brazil’s letter and said it would respond in due course. A spokesperson added that the EU is moving ahead with the regulation’s implementation, with no postponement planned.
The EU is the second-largest market for the products targeted by the law, after China. Under the regulation, companies importing these goods into the 27-member bloc will be required to track their supply chains to ensure they were not sourced from deforested areas, using geolocation and satellite data. Countries deemed high-risk could see at least nine percent of their exports to the EU subjected to checks.
The EU’s environment commissioner visited Paraguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador in March to address concerns about the new law. The bloc has also offered technical and financial support to help importers meet the required tracing standards.
According to WWF, EU imports account for 16 percent of global deforestation.
