“Regarding the proposal to delay the European Union deforestation regulation (EUDR), the Meloni government, while strongly supporting the goal of combating deforestation and enhancing sustainability in supply chains,  believes that the conditions for full implementation of the regulation by the end of 2024 are not yet in place.

Currently, companies are not prepared to meet the required traceability obligations, which could lead to serious economic difficulties and a significant increase in the risk of fueling illegal markets. Therefore, we urge the European Commission to consider a delay of at least one year, beyond the six-month extension proposed by Germany. This will give businesses the necessary time to adjust and ensure effective implementation of the law without adverse effects on the involved economic sectors.

We are confident that with adequate time and support measures, a balance can be achieved between environmental protection and the preservation of our productive sectors, including the defense of Italy’s top-quality products.”

This statement from Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry, addresses the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products, which is scheduled to come into effect on December 30, 2024. It appears that there is growing awareness in politics regarding the European regulation and its shortcomings.

The lack of clear guidelines from the European Commission, with less than four months until the regulation’s implementation, is causing confusion and instability. Numerous requests for clarification and postponement from both European governments and stakeholders in the affected industries confirm that companies are not yet ready to comply with the new regulation’s requirements, which are seen as overly vague and general. This situation could lead to serious economic difficulties, both nationally and across Europe.

The Italian government’s statement aligns with that of German Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, who has also requested a six-month delay for the regulation’s implementation.