Ferrero, Mars Wrigley, Tony’s Chocolonely, Unilever, Fairtrade International, Fairtrade Advocacy Office, Rainforest Alliance, Solidaridad and VOICE Network strongly oppose the amendments tabled to the European Commission’s proposal to delay the EU Deforestation Regulation, and call on MEPs to vote against them and to adopt the Commission’s proposal without further amendment.

Changing the content of the EUDR after the several years of preparations our companies have made would serve only to impede the smooth passage of the proposal, increase uncertainty and jeopardise the significant investments companies have made in preparing for its application.

The amendments, by substantially reducing the impact of the legislation and creating several exceptions, would result in undue discrimination against those companies that have invested in sustainable supply chains.

In addition, adopting the amendments would also risk the prospect of a new trilogue process, generating uncertainty and the risk of the Commission’s proposal not being adopted by the end of this year.