Too much bureaucracy: ZDB calls for improvements to the deforestation regulation

Starting December 30 of this year, the provisions of the EU Deforestation Regulation are to become binding in the member states. The ZDB is calling for a two-year postponement and an amendment to the law.

This article is part of the special topic Bureaucratic madness in the craft industry

Since 30 June of last year, the EU Deforestation RegulationIt stipulates that various goods placed on the market in the EU are not subject to Deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world Companies are therefore subject to duty of careto ensure the goal of deforestation-free supply chains for deforestation-free products. After a transition period of 18 months, the rules will apply from 30 December 2024 apply. A transition period of 24 months applies to small businesses.

The new obligations apply to the import and export of Palm oil, beef, soy, coffee, cocoa, wood, rubber and products made from them such as furniture or chocolate. The companies must prove that the products are both deforestation-free, i.e. produced on land that not after 31 December 2020 deforested. They must be in accordance with all legal provisions applicable in the country of production .

ZDB calls for postponement and revision

Criticism of the ZDHAlso the Central Association of German Skilled Crafts criticizes the deforestation regulation and demands improvements.In addition, the obligation geographical information on the agricultural land on which the products they purchase were produced, so that compliance with the rules can be checked. Member States must then ensure that non-compliance with the rules is reported to the authorities. EU Commission "effective and dissuasive sanctions". The list of recorded raw materials should regularly reviewed and updated This will take into account new data such as changing deforestation patterns.

The Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB) is now pushing for a Procrastination the mandatory application and a revision of the regulation. "The new regulation serves biodiversity, climate protection and, last but not least, is intended to protect human rights. This is absolutely to be welcomed," says ZDB President Wolfgang Schubert-Raab. However, the implementation would new bureaucratic burdens especially for small and medium-sized businesses. These burdens must be avoided.

Many unanswered questions

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have reduced bureaucracy Focus of her new term of office The deforestation regulation nevertheless creates new administrative hurdles and "opens all doors to bureaucracy again." Schubert-Raab questions whether the required complete documentation along the supply chains actually advances climate protection. "We are also in favor of applying the regulation not ready to go yet, because the platform for information exchange between authorities and reporting obligations is not in operation." 

The Risk classification of areas of origin of the products affected by the regulation, which is expected to have a significant impact on the scope of due diligence obligations, not yet available. "And there are still many other unanswered questions, so it is already clear that our construction companies will no longer be able to adapt to the defined scope of obligations in time. The application of the EU Deforestation Regulation must be postponed for two years and EU law fundamentally improved otherwise it will end up being: well thought out, but poorly executed."

Ministry with concerns

"To have a efficient, practical and low-bureaucracy application To ensure this, the BMEL in Brussels continues to advocate for a Postponement of application launch one," says the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (BLE). It is the competent authority in Germany and coordinates the implementation of the regulation. The ministry is monitoring the status of the remaining implementation work in Brussels.with great concern" – this includes, above all, the still outstanding benchmarking, i.e. the risk classification of the countries. 

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