
Brussels – A majority of EU member states, including the Czech Republic, are advocating for revisions to the contentious deforestation regulation. A letter, which has been obtained by ČTK, was addressed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and was co-signed by Czech Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný along with 17 other ministers from the 27-member bloc.
The letter expresses concern that “the regulation, as it stands, does not adequately consider countries with effective forest protection laws and minimal deforestation risk.” It further argues that “rather than targeting deforestation in areas of highest risk, the regulation imposes disproportionate bureaucratic burdens on nations where deforestation is clearly minimal.”
Initially, the regulation was set to be implemented by the end of 2024, but the European Commission has since suggested delaying its enforcement by one year. This adjustment follows pushback from various companies, certain member states such as the Czech Republic, and some trading partners of the EU. The revised rules are now expected to come into force on December 30, 2025.
The letter’s signatories are calling for EU regulations to exclude countries where deforestation risks are classified as low. It asserts that “excessive and unnecessary due diligence requirements must be eliminated in nations where agricultural growth does not significantly impact forest area.” Additionally, it states, “For countries identified as low-risk for deforestation, it should be recognized that their existing national frameworks are robust enough to ensure proper oversight of compliance with the deforestation regulation.”
Minister Výborný has voiced his criticisms of the regulation multiple times. “While we acknowledge the global issue of deforestation, it is not a challenge faced by the Czech Republic or most EU member states. The real issues lie elsewhere, and we must ensure that our farmers, foresters, and traders are not adversely affected,” he remarked during a Brussels meeting at the end of May. (July 7)













Leave a Reply