ICO Urges EU to Postpone Deadline for Deforestation Requirement on Coffee Imports
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is advocating for a delay in the European Union’s regulation that mandates imported coffee beans be sourced from deforestation-free areas. The rule, scheduled to come into effect by the end of the year, would impact the sales of various products such as coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, wood, rubber, and cattle if companies fail to demonstrate that their goods are not linked to recent deforestation.
Vanusia Nogueira, the director of ICO, expressed concerns about meeting the current deadline, emphasizing the need for more time to comply with the stringent requirement. The ICO represents a significant portion of global coffee production and consumption, with major coffee-producing countries like Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia among its member nations.
Nogueira stressed the complexity of the deadline, stating that collaborative efforts with EU leaders could lead to a potential extension. While the exact duration of the postponement was not specified, she reassured that the EU would find a solution to ensure a continuous supply of coffee to European consumers.
The discussions surrounding the deforestation requirement took place at a coffee summit organized by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Tegucigalpa. Honduran Deputy Minister of Coffee Growing, Carlos Murillo, mentioned that the member nations of CELAC are expected to request the EU to delay the implementation date through a formal declaration.
In conclusion, the potential delay in the EU’s deforestation requirement for coffee imports could have significant implications for the global coffee industry. It is essential for stakeholders to collaborate and address the challenges posed by this regulation to ensure the sustainability of coffee supply chains and meet the demands of consumers worldwide.