Global Canopy response to the EU consultation on deforestation and forest products

Global Canopy has submitted a response to the European Commission’s consultation on deforestation and forest degradation. The Commission has said it will introduce regulatory and other demand-side measures to ensure deforestation-free supply chains by 2021. Global Canopy has welcomed the consultation but believes that to be effective the Commission needs to adopt a broad approach to legislative measures.

Summary

We urge the European Commission to:

• Take a broad approach to defining deforestation
  • Legislation should include other carbon-rich and biodiverse habitats including wetlands and savannahs
  • Legislation should include both legal and illegal deforestation, simplifying monitoring and reporting, and creating a level playing field for companies
• Include a broad range of commodities to avoid spill-over impacts
• Include all companies in relevant supply chains, regardless of company size or their position in the supply chain
• Recognise the crucial role played by financial institutions and include appropriate due diligence requirements for finance.

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