The European Commission's Decision
The European Union has excluded leather from its final list of products targeted by the EU's deforestation law. Experts claim that the July 13 decision is the result of industry lobbying, and does not reflect the true deforestation footprint of leather.
The EU's deforestation regulation (EUDR) requires companies selling commodities like cattle, soy, palm oil, and cocoa on the European market to prove that their supply chains are not sourcing materials from recently deforested lands. The law is currently set to come into force by the end of this year, after two years of delays.
Why This Matters
The decision to exclude leather from the EUDR is deeply disappointing, as it ignores strong evidence linking European leather consumption to deforestation in Latin America. It also ignores the voices of EU citizens from the recent public consultation and prioritizes industry lobby interests.
According to a recent report by Mongabay, the European Commission's own research concluded that leather may be responsible for up to 17% of the deforestation footprint linked to imports covered by the EUDR.
The Mechanism Behind the Decision
The exclusion of leather from the EU's deforestation law is the result of a complex process involving industry lobbying and law revisions. The EUDR was originally approved to combat deforestation and forest degradation, but faced a series of revisions that weakened the law.
Transparency records compiled by the non-profit organization LobbyFacts revealed that leather industry groups met with lawmakers at least 22 times since 2021, and the EUDR was explicitly listed as a discussion topic in 11 of the meetings. The lobbying efforts were led by two Italian tanning unions, COTANCE and Unione.
Broader Context
The decision to exclude leather from the EU's deforestation law is part of a broader context of law revisions and weakening. The EUDR was originally approved to combat deforestation and forest degradation, but faced a series of revisions that weakened the law.
Other products, such as soy and palm oil, have also been targeted by industry lobbying and law revisions. However, the exclusion of leather is particularly concerning, as leather is a product with a large deforestation footprint and is widely consumed in the EU.
What Happens Next
The exclusion of leather from the EU's deforestation law is a step backward in the fight against deforestation and forest degradation. However, there is still hope that the law can be strengthened and leather can be included again.
EU citizens and environmental organizations must continue to pressure lawmakers to take more effective measures to combat deforestation and forest degradation. Additionally, companies selling products that contribute to deforestation must be held accountable for their actions.
Final Conclusions
The exclusion of leather from the EU's deforestation law is a concerning decision that ignores the deforestation footprint of leather and prioritizes industry interests. However, there is still hope that the law can be strengthened and leather can be included again.
Source / Reference
This article was originally published in Mongabay.