The EU’s Deforestation Law Reaches a Contested Finish Line

The delegated act adopted on 13 July clarifies the product scope, notably including instant coffee and palm oil derivatives while excluding leather. This decision sparked immediate backlash from civil society groups, who warn that the omission of leather creates significant regulatory loopholes and encourages unfair competition. Despite these concerns, advocates like WWF’s Béatrice Wedeux argue the decision provides the necessary certainty for companies to stop stalling and begin full implementation of the mandate.

The regulation forces businesses trading in commodities such as cocoa, timber, and rubber to prove their supply chains are free from deforestation. However, the path to enforcement has been rocky; the Commission was forced to scale back due diligence requirements by roughly 75 percent to prevent a total collapse of its IT infrastructure. Critics, including US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder, have labeled the rules "selective protectionism," pointing out that smaller European firms often enjoy exemptions that burden foreign competitors.

Despite the friction, the regulation is gaining momentum abroad. The UK recently announced plans for a similar anti-deforestation law, signaling that stricter supply chain due diligence is becoming a global standard. While green NGOs estimate that every year of delay has cost the planet 50 million trees and millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions, the Commission maintains that the infrastructure is finally ready. Whether this complex system can effectively curb environmental degradation or merely create a bureaucratic maze remains the central challenge for the coming years.