FSC’s position and 10 recommendations to improve the new EU rules for deforestation-free products

The European Commission has proposed a Regulation aiming to mimimise EU-driven deforestation and forest degradation. FSC has shared 10 suggestions to improve the Regulation.

The EU proposal is part of a broader plan of actions to tackle deforestation and forest degradation first outlined in the 2019 Commission Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World's Forests.

The new EU initiative will ensure that products consumed on the EU market do not contribute to global deforestation and forest degradation. The new rules are thus expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss – in line with the EU Green Deal objectives.

The proposal is currently being scrutinised by the EU Parliament (representing EU citizens) and the Council of the EU (representing EU Member States). Both institutions can amend the Regulation as proposed by the EU Commission.

As a member of the EU Platform on Protecting and Restoring the World’s Forests and key stakeholder on the matter, FSC has shared 10 suggestions to improve the EU rules for deforestation-free products. Our position and recommendations are:

1. Supporting the fight against deforestation and degradation  
2. Specifying the proposed definitions by aligning them with the Accountability Framework  
3. Expanding the list of commodities to all wood products and rubber  
4. Broadening the scope of the Regulation to other ecosystems  
5. Reinforcing due diligence  
6. Employing voluntary sustainability standards meeting strict credibility criteria as part of the risk assessment and risk mitigation phase  
7. Enhancing protection of Indigenous Peoples  
8. Supporting traceability requirements and empowering smallholders  
9. Boosting cooperation and partnerships with producer countries  
10. Including deforestation-free criteria in EU mandatory Green Public Procurement

FSC’s 10 recommendations are further elaborated in the PDF at the end of the page. For questions concerning FSC’s position, please contact FSC’s EU Affairs Manager, Matteo Mascolo at: m.mascolo@fsc.org