UK businesses are bracing for new regulations aimed at ensuring that their sourcing strategies do not contribute to “illegal deforestation,” as announced by the government today (23 June).
The UK government intends to advance new legislation in Great Britain that will utilize powers under the Environment Act, along with strengthening the existing UK Timber Regulation.
As part of these proposals—set to be opened for consultation—companies trading in rainforest-sourced commodities such as soy and palm oil will be required to verify that their supply chains do not facilitate illegal deforestation.
Mary Creagh, the Minister for Nature in the UK, stated, “Eliminating products linked to illegal deforestation not only helps to protect precious ecosystems but is good for our collective resilience and long-term prosperity.”
The British Retail Consortium (BRC), the leading trade association for UK retailers, confirmed that its members have been advocating for these regulatory measures.
Andrew Opie, BRC’s Director of Food and Sustainability, remarked that this initiative is “an important step in driving forest conservation across retail supply chains in line with business commitments, while supporting alignment with the EU where possible to avoid unnecessary costs and complexity for retailers and their customers.”
Meanwhile, on the continental side, businesses in the EU are preparing for the implementation of the bloc’s own regulation, known as EUDR, designed to combat deforestation.
Initially introduced in 2021, EUDR was set to take effect from 30 December 2024. However, the EU government, under pressure from member states, third countries, and various businesses, announced a delay of a year to 30 December 2025.
Last December, the enforcement of EUDR was again postponed by another 12 months due to industry demands and concerns about whether the necessary IT infrastructure would be in place to support the law.
Additionally, the EU is revising EUDR to alleviate concerns raised by national governments and stakeholders about the “administrative burden” imposed by the new legislation.
The adjustments “streamline” the due diligence requirements, with the enforcement date now set for 30 December 2026, including an additional six-month grace period for micro and small enterprises.
To preserve Northern Ireland’s access to both the UK Internal Market and the EU Single Market, EUDR will be implemented in phases starting on 30 December, according to the UK government.
The proposed new regulations for Great Britain will encompass “the same core commodities and underlying information requirements as the regulation in Northern Ireland,” as confirmed by the government.
“This aligned approach is crafted to prevent administrative overlap across the UK while assisting British exporters to the EU in meeting consistent standards for data and traceability. It is advised that businesses in Northern Ireland commence preparations now,” the government noted.
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) announced that the UK government has confirmed that EUDR will pertain to “relevant cattle and beef products produced and traded in Northern Ireland.”
Lucas Daglish, the BMPA’s sustainability manager, commented, “The Government’s intention to align information requirements under UK deforestation regulations with EUDR due diligence where feasible is encouraging, as it should help to minimize redundancy and ease the administrative load for businesses operating in both markets.”
“Nonetheless, significant uncertainties persist regarding the practical implementation of the regulations, particularly concerning the movement of cattle and beef between Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. Comprehensive guidance will be critical to allow processors, producers, and exporters sufficient time to adapt their systems, contracts, and supply chains prior to enforcement,” he added.
Gavin Crowden, director of advocacy at WWF, emphasized, “The UK government has indicated that the degradation of tropical forests in regions like the Amazon and Indonesia poses a national security risk, not solely an environmental challenge. These forests are vital for our food supply and climate stability, as well as being home to extraordinary wildlife. With new regulations poised to take effect in Northern Ireland at the year’s end, there is no justification for any further delays that would leave consumers in the remainder of the UK unknowingly exacerbating rainforest destruction.”
