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Countries, including US, seek changes to EU deforestation regulation
Sheena Suparman (The Jakarta Post) May 2, 2024
Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartato
As a regulatory initiative developed by the European Union (EU) aiming to impose comprehensive testing requirements on various agricultural and forestry commodities, the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) is seen as a significant challenge that could harm Indonesian agricultural and forestry commodities, including palm oil, and undermine Indonesia's efforts and commitments in addressing issues related to climate change and biodiversity protection in line with multilateral agreements and conventions.
In response to this situation, Indonesia has emerged as a leading voice in expressing serious concerns and disagreement with the EU's discriminatory actions against palm oil through the EUDR. Additionally, Indonesia, along with Malaysia and the EU, have agreed to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Task Force on the EUDR to address various issues related to the implementation of the EUDR faced by Indonesia and Malaysia. This task force is also tasked with identifying the best solutions and resolutions regarding the implementation of the EUDR
Aligned with Indonesia's and Malaysia's efforts, bipartisan groups from both the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States have also highlighted the unfairness of EUDR policies for farmers entering the European market. Delaying the implementation or modifying the EUDR regulations is considered one of the viable solutions for the current situation.
Opposition to the EUDR policy is also in line with the views of the EU's agriculture minister. Additionally, 20 out of 27 ministers have called for the postponement of the EUDR at the recent Agriculture Fisheries Council Configuration (AGRIFISH) meeting.
Leading agricultural association in the EU, Copa-Cogeca, has also recommended delaying the implementation of the EUDR policy because it is not feasible to implement it due to inadequate framework preparation time that cannot be completed by the EUDR policy implementation deadline.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com
