Today Solidaridad joined with a wide group of leading companies, non-governmental organisations and multi-stakeholder organisations to send a letter to Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, to implore her to not heed any calls for a reopening of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR).
Many companies and their value chain partners, including smallholder farmers, have been actively preparing for and investing in compliance with the provisions of the EUDR. At the same time many exporting countries have made significant investments in measures designed to meet the requirements of the EUDR and to keep smallholder farmers connected to EU markets.
Reopening the EUDR for unpredictable changes for a third time risks a new period of uncertainty, wasting all of this hard work and punishing responsible frontrunners and undermining confidence in the EU as a partner.
Yes the EUDR is not perfect, more support for smallholders and for producing countries will be essential. But perfect shouldn’t be the enemy of progress at a time when we need to drive smallholder resilience and inclusion.
This letter is undersigned by: Anne Caron, le café de spécialité, ATIBT, APF, Barry Callebaut, Café Dagobert, Canopée, Cérélia, Ferrero, FTAO, Groupe Baronie, Jeff de Bruges, Nestle, Olam Rainforest Alliance, Solidaridad, Tony’s Chocolonely, and VOICE/VOCAL.
Read the full letter at the link below.