Page 43 - FDMAsia JulAug 2024
P. 43

FOCUS       41
         www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA JUL/AUG 2024




          demanded that geo-coordinates be required along the entire                                          PickPik
          supply chain”.
            GD Holz also say that “asked what kind of checks
          downstream non-SME market participants have to carry out

          if they purchase products affected by the EUDR within the
          EU, the EC has clarified that such checks must not relate
          to individual deliveries, but to the general application of the
          EUDR by the supplier.
            To this end, the due diligence system applied by the
          supplier must be reviewed, e.g. in the form of regular audits.
          This means that, as a rule, only rudimentary information
          (e.g. reference number, tree species, country of felling) and   by a qualified majority at the Council is 65%).
          information on the due diligence system used must be passed   The law requires that EU countries restore at least 30

          on. If the customer determines that there is a high risk in   percent of habitats covered by the law from poor to good
          individual cases, further data may be requested”.  condition by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050. The regulated
            While the EC is making concessions to internal suppliers   habitats include forests alongside grasslands, wetlands, rivers
          on the issue of traceability and geolocations, GD Holz implies   and lakes. Member states must also ensure that these areas
          that the EC is less inclined to make concessions to suppliers   do not deteriorate once restored.
          outside the EU.                                       The final text watered down some of the requirements for
            GD Holz note that “another important issue that we have   the farming sector, particularly by introducing an “emergency

          raised with the EU is imports from countries that currently   brake” so targets affecting agriculture can be suspended
          make it difficult to share geo-coordinates. The best-known   “under exceptional circumstances” that threaten food security.
          example of this is China, which prohibits the disclosure of   In practical terms for European forests, the law will require
          coordinates for security reasons.                  Member States to introduce critical safeguards to protect
            The EU has succinctly informed us that there have been   remaining old-growth forests, set aside additional forests for
          discussions on this topic with the Chinese government and   restoration, and improve the biodiversity of forests managed
          suppliers. It was made clear that imports without coordinates   for wood production.
          were not possible and that there would be no exceptions for   In a report drawing on analysis of satellite data, the World
          countries such as China. No statements were made about   Resources Institute (WRI) shows why the Nature Restoration

          attempts to solve this problem”.                   Law is so timely, despite Europe’s total tree cover having
                                                             increased slightly over the last two decades.
          EU adopts new Nature Restoration law                  According to WRI, “Europe’s forests face increasing
          Following a final vote on 17 June at the Environmental Council,   pressures. Impacts include fewer tall forests, climate change-
          the EU adopted its new European Restoration Regulation.   induced  wildfires,  insect  outbreaks,  and,  most  recently,
          This legislation is the first to set legally binding restoration   increased wood harvesting to meet additional demand for
          targets for the long-term recovery of nature in Europe. The   ‘home-grown’ biomass in response to the Ukraine war and

          law passed with a narrow majority of 20 countries representing   changing energy demands”  FDM
          66 percent of the EU’s population (the threshold for approval                         ENQUIRY NO. 4101
   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48