Now what? The practical implementation of the EUDR

Now what? The practical implementation of the EUDR in Europe and Producing CountriesLIVE ROUNDTABLE

17 October 2023
Posted by: Competere
Categories: events, highlights, News, Sustainable Nutrition

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Now what?

The practical implementation of the EUDR in Europe and Producing Countries

SUMMARY OF THE ROUNDTABLE

Full recording and video clips available below!

On October 17th, we organized a discussion on the state of the art of implementing the European Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) as part of the Sustainable Nutrition Platform.

The European Union formally adopted the EUDR on June 29, 2023. This groundbreaking legislation aims to ensure that specific commodities, namely wood, rubber, palm oil, soy, beef, coffee, and cacao, not only produced for the EU market but also exported globally, cease contributing to deforestation.

Upon the official acceptance of the EUDR, the European Union embarked on the pivotal implementation phase. Belgium and the Netherlands have taken proactive steps, demonstrating a strong sense of urgency and commitment in initiating the transposition process. Conversely, a significant number of member states appear indifferent, displaying minimal enthusiasm for achieving the regulation’s objectives.

During the roundtable discussion these key points emerged:

To ensure a homogeneous implementation process, continuous dialogue and harmonization between different European countries is essential.
In the Netherlands, through close collaboration with the responsible ministry and the other commodity sectors that fall under the scope of the EUDR, a more uniform implementation is being accomplished.
In producing countries, one of the biggest challenges is the inclusion of smallholders. Existing certification schemes, which align with many of the EUDR requirements, can play a key role in this.

While the journey is expected to be fraught with challenges, it is absolutely essential for all stakeholders to wholeheartedly invest in the implementation process, turning the EUDR from mere legislation into a tangible opportunity for all.

SPEAKERS

Speakers’ bio available below

Eddy Esselink, Senior Manager Sustainable Development, MVO

Jelmen Haaze, Secretary-General, EU Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil

Tan Chee Yong, Manager, Technical Outreach & Extension Service, MPOCC

MODERATOR

Pietro Paganini, President, Competere.eu

REWATCH THE EVENT

Pills from the event

Jelmen Haaze, Secretary-General, EU Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil

Eddy Esselink, Senior Manager Sustainable Development, MVO

Tan Chee Yong, Manager, Technical Outreach & Extension Service, MPOCC

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SPEAKER BIO

Eddy Esselink is currently working as Senior Manager Sustainable Development at MVO – the Netherlands Oils and Fats Industry. Important themes are: Sustainable sourcing of oils and fats, SDG implementation, Chain of Custody requirements, energy-efficiency improvement, lowering ecological footprint, protein sourcing and the bio based economy. Next to that he is chairing the Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil. Over the last years, this Task Force has been successful in bringing sustainable palm oil to the Dutch market. Edit is also working for the European Palm Oil Alliance. Together with other organisations and stakeholders, EPOA is focussing on a 100% Sustainable European Palm Oil Supply Chain. Furthermore, he is chairing the RSPO Trade & Traceability Standing Committee. Before joining the MVO, Eddy has been working for Unilever for more than 14 years. He started in Research & Development working on a large number of Food and HPC subjects. The last years he spent with Group Supply Chain, with a specific focus on sustainable oils. Palm Oil and Soy as well as other oil crops have always been high on the agenda. (Education: PhD Chemistry, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.)

Jelmen Haaze serves as the Secretary-General of the EU Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil. Prior to this, he held the same role at the Belgian Alliance for Sustainable Palm Oil and co-chaired the European Sustainable Palm Oil Advocacy Group, focusing on EU regulatory issues in the palm oil industry. In his capacity as EU Policy Manager, Jelmen led the margarine sector in legislative modernization and dietary guidelines at the Belgian level. He also spearheaded sustainability and contaminant initiatives, resulting in a sector sustainability guide and increased EU institutional engagement. Jelmen is a Board Member of IrisNET, the digital infrastructure of the Brussels Region, and the Brussels Regional Social Housing Company. He previously served on the board of the European Network of Political Foundations for a decade. Internationally, Jelmen has worked on HIV/AIDS projects in South Africa, involving industry, trade unions, and NGOs. In Israel/Palestine, he facilitated partnerships between mayors and social organisations, contributing to peace-building efforts and economic development. Academically, Jelmen holds several degrees, including an Executive Master in International Association Management, a Subsequent Master in Banking and Finance, and a Master in Educational Sciences.

Pietro Paganini is an economic and (geo)political analyst and disseminator, and the Chair and Founder at Competere. Pietro serves as Adjunct Professor in Business Administration at Fox School of Business – Temple University of Philadelphia (2015), and as Adjunct Professor in Business Administration at John Cabot University, Rome (2008). He served as Visiting Professor for the MPOB-UKM Endowment Chair, The National University of Malaysia (UKM) (2021). He served as General Director of Fondazione Luigi Einaudi. He is the founder of the Italian Institute for Privacy – Istituto Italiano per la Privacy e la Valorizzazione dei Dati – where he seats in the Board. He is a regular contributor to the Italian national newspapers and international publications and media, in which he has continuously advocated for an open society and innovation policies. He is regularly hosted in TV and radio talk shows on main Italian and international broadcasters.

Tan Chee Yong joined MPOCC in July 2017 as an officer in the Supply Chain Unit of MPOCC before being promoted to Manager of the Government Liaison Unit. Currently, he is leading the Technical Outreach & Extension Service Unit to provide technical support to the palm oil industry in MSPO certification. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biotechnology from the University Science of Malaysia (USM). Prior to MPOCC, he was an officer in the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Malaysia, where he was involved in developing Malaysian Biofuel policy and implementation, specifically in palm biodiesel.