European Commission seeks delay in implementation of deforestation regulation

The European Commission has proposed a one-year delay in the implementation of the European Union (EU) Deforestation Regulation.

With the implementation of the regulation, the EU will ban the export of goods produced in deforested areas.

According to the latest issue of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) newsletter released on Friday, the commission proposed extending the deadlines for large entities to 30 December 2025 and for small- and medium-sized enterprises to 30 June 2026.

NAU says while this proposal requires approval from the European parliament and council – an outcome that is generally anticipated – certain details still need further examination.

“If the proposal is approved, Namibia would have an extra year to ensure that operators and the rest of the beef value chain are compliant and fully prepared.

“It is, however, important to note that Namibia will continue with its original implementation timeline, using the additional time primarily to address challenges or issues that may arise,” says the newsletter.

However, in a recent statement, the EU Delegation to Namibia says the country will continue exporting beef and charcoal to the EU after the introduction of the deforestation regulation, originally set for January 2025.

The statement says the goal of the regulation on deforestation-free products is to reduce the EU’s contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation by implementing the Green Deal road map and reaching the EU27 target of reducing carbon emissions by at least 55% of 1990 levels by 2030.

The EU says in the case of Namibia, the regulation will not affect the export of charcoal and beef.

“However, in Namibia, we note that these products are not produced in forested areas, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Orginisation of the United Nations’ definition of forest.

“Namibia’s charcoal exported to the EU is made of bush thickening from the savannah.

Moreover, invader or encroachment bush even has a negative impact on biodiversity,” says the EU, adding that bush clearing actually improves rangelands and restores savannah ecosystems.

“Moreover, Namibian exporters of charcoal to the EU are already Forest Stewardship Council certified, which has already incorporated [regulation] requirements in their certification criteria,” says the EU statement.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na