Latest news with #EUDeforestationRegulation
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
As EU's green trade rules kick in, India works policy shifts
New Delhi: While India and the European Union (EU) are ready to close a key trade pact, various Indian ministries are working on several rulebook shifts to align with a slew of new, stricter 'green' regulations by the EU that will come into effect within a year and are bound to impact Indian trade across sectors from coffee export to import of scrap. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is at the forefront of the exercise, readying rulebook shifts and mechanisms to align with the incoming 'green' regime at the EU. Packaging for EU - no antibiotics to boot The latest niggle is the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR) that will regulate the types of packaging acceptable across the EU markets from August 2026 onwards. Bound to have a huge impact for all Indian exports to the EU, the regulations have triggered deliberations across industry as well as several stakeholder ministries to prepare for a comprehensive overhaul of packaging systems. Reason: the new rules call for several restrictions on the manufacturing, composition, and reusable nature of packaging. These range from barring use of single-use plastics for pre-packed fruit and vegetables to packaging of condiments, sauces, and sugar. They also go into aspects like weight and volume of packaging to minimise unnecessary packaging. Deadlines of 2030 and 2040 have been set to ensure a minimum percentage of recycled content in packaging, all of which will require major shifts for Indian industry. The next one, under advanced discussion in the Indian government, is regarding EU's 2018-19 ban on 'non-therapeutic antibiotic use in livestock' and animal products. ET gathered that the EU earlier this year warned India that unless it completely bans nearly 30 such antibiotics for animal use, several animal products from India would not be permitted into the EU from a specific date later this year. An older India advisory has been found inadequate. ET has learnt that the ministries of health, agriculture and commerce are finally close to issuing a full-fledged notification on the issue to align with the EU rulebook requirement. 'Deforestation free' products A third regulation of concern is the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) which will come into full effect between December 2025 to June 2026 with significant implications for export of coffee, palm oil, rubber, wood, soy and cattle and related products from leather to furniture. The EUDR requires exporters to assure and certify that their products are 'deforestation free' - not sourced/produced from deforested or degraded land. Companies will need to trace products back to their 'origin,' with geolocation and 'due diligence' procedures to ward off a stiff penalty. The Indian environment ministry is currently working on state-level mechanisms to bring in the 'due diligence' certification regime to prove 'origin of wood' involved, ET has geo-tagging of plots is being worked upon for coffee plantations to vineyards to secure compliance to export to the EU. The Wasteland The EU Waste Shipment Regulation (EU WSR) comes next and will take effect from May 2026. It demands that all waste exported out of the EU must be processed in an environmentally responsible manner - through a verifiable, third party audit based mechanism. With India importing over 3.5 million tonnes of waste from the EU - iron scrap to tyre waste and paper- the WSR will require a significant shift of mechanisms at India's growing waste processing industry. Citing the new WSR rulebook, the EU earlier this year asked India to share a list of waste products it would like to import. India is learnt to have indicated over 26 categories of waste it is keen to import. ET gathers that hectic work is on to strengthen standards and quality control measures ahead of the 2026 deadline. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Task force on textiles exports sets collaborative roadmap to boost India's global market share
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry held the inaugural meeting of the Task Force on Textiles Exports under the chairmanship of Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal at Vanijya Bhawan on June 10. The high-level meeting marked a significant step toward building a collaborative framework aimed at enhancing India's share in global textile exports, the ministry said in an official release. The newly formed Task Force is envisioned as a unified platform to address critical challenges in the textile sector, foster stakeholder engagement, and develop actionable strategies to boost exports across the textile value chain. The discussions at the meeting were comprehensive, covering a wide range of policy and operational issues. Key focus areas included: Upgrading ESG infrastructure in garment units Promoting renewable energy use Addressing EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance Expanding e-commerce channels for textile exports Simplifying regulatory frameworks, improving labour productivity, and enhancing cost competitiveness Focused support for MSME exporters, including export credit, certification, and testing support Scheme-related suggestions on RoDTEP, RoSCTL, and Duty Drawback Promotion of PM MITRA Parks, jute diversified products, separate HS codes for GI products, and natural fibre productivity The meeting was attended by senior officials including Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary L Satya Srinivas, FA Arti Bhatnagar, DGFT Ajay Bhadoo, and Additional Secretary (Textiles) Rohit Kansal, along with representatives from related departments, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), industry associations, and leading exporters. Exporters and council members shared critical insights and provided recommendations for sectoral improvement. Based on these deliberations, the Chair directed that sub-task forces be formed on key thematic areas. Each sub-task force will be led by the concerned ministry and will include members from EPCs and industry stakeholders. Their mandate will be to deliver practical, time-bound recommendations to the main Task Force. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing India's textile export goals in alignment with the Viksit Bharat Vision 2047 , reinforcing the government's resolve to position India as a global textile powerhouse.
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia seeks to deepen ties with Poland in key strategic sectors
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with Poland in areas such as defence, food technology, trade and investment, digital technology, renewable energy, and green hydrogen. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he held extensive discussions with Polish President Andrzej Duda on expanding exports of palm oil, wood, rubber products, and electrical and electronics (E&E) collaboration, including green hydrogen initiatives. "Poland has made phenomenal advancements in new technologies, digital AI, and food technology. This has positioned Poland as an important partner in the EU and a key player in the region. "I look forward to enhancing our bilateral relationship in defence, food technology, trade and investment, digital technology, renewable energy, and your emerging expertise in green hydrogen. "The exponential growth in trade is very encouraging. The 19.5 per cent year-on-year increase from 2023 to 2024 is indeed remarkable, highlighting the potential in our bilateral trade, investments, and overall relations with Poland," he said at a joint press conference with Duda today. Anwar also said both sides discussed expanding their long-term defence procurement relationship. "I am pleased to learn that President Duda will be visiting Port Dickson today, primarily for discussions with the Defence Ministry. "There is clear potential for collaboration and growth. I believe we should showcase the capabilities of both Malaysia and Poland in the areas we discussed, including the halal industry, where Poland's strength in modern food technology is notable," he said. He added that Malaysia, as Asean Chair, and Poland, which held the EU Council presidency during the first half of this year, also discussed Malaysia's relations with Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and China. Anwar noted that both leaders also discussed the EU Deforestation Regulation and trade agreements as part of broader negotiations. "I am pleased that since the beginning of the EU presidency, we have seen accelerated discussions between Asean EU and Malaysia EU, including talks on a free trade agreement. "These discussions had been stalled for some years, possibly due to different EU priorities. But in the past year and particularly the past few months we have seen strong momentum building. "To me, the EU including Poland remains a key strategic partner for Malaysia as a trading nation and for Asean cohesion," he said. They also discussed international issues of shared concern, including the conflict in Ukraine, where both sides strongly advocate for a peaceful resolution. Anwar also expressed appreciation for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and commended Poland's efforts in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as its support for a two-state solution and the urgent need for peace and humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the occupied territories. "I hope this visit marks a turning point in showcasing how Malaysia and Poland can move forward together," he said. President Duda arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation. He is scheduled to visit the Second Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps at Kem Sunggala, Port Dickson, later today and deliver a public lecture at the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya. As of 2024, Poland ranks as Malaysia's eighth largest trading partner among EU member states, with total bilateral trade increasing by 19.5 per cent to RM5.66 billion compared to 2023.
DW
31-05-2025
- General
- DW
Is the Philippines' reforestation drive coming up short? – DW – 05/31/2025
The Philippines launched one of the world's largest reforestation efforts. But satellite data and field reports raise questions: Is the program really restoring forests? Marlo Mendoza is the architect of one of the world's most ambitious regreening programs. His office at the University of the Philippines in Laguna is crammed with books about trees and nature conservation. Hunched over his desk, he flicks through a glossy government brochure praising his project's successes, with 1.8 billion seedlings planted over 2 million hectares (approximately 4.9 million acres) across the Philippines. Millions of native trees have been replanted and are now growing into forests, sequestering carbon and supporting wildlife. Indigenous and farming communities cultivate produce among the forests and former timber cutters now manage tree farms. Communities sidelined in reforestation effort This is what Mendoza dreamed of — however, he admits it is far from the reality on the ground. "We mobilized the entire citizenry to plant, but where are all the trees planted?" Mendoza told DW. "I made the manual; many provisions were not followed." The Philippines National Greening Program (NGP) was launched in 2011 as an ambitious response to decades of deforestation, which had become a huge issue during the 1970s and '80s. But the NGP struggled with natural resource plundering, which depleted the Philippines' forest cover and replaced community and indigenous forests with plantations of invasive exotic species. An analysis of millions of satellite images suggests that as many as one in every 25 hectares of NGP land experienced a major deforestation event: that is, instead of barren sites being reforested, the opposite occurs: forests are cleared right before or during regreening efforts. The sites are more often than not managed by communities with only short-term access to the land. They are required to grow single cash crops tied to the volatile global commodity markets, which do not provide a steady income. A group of environmental investigators that carried out the analysis said the results expose a new pattern of "greenwashing" — a marketing tactic used to make a product or service appear better for the environment than it is. The most common commodities grown on the sites, including timber and fruit, have a green stamp of approval, potentially eligible for export across the world. This includes the EU, despite the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires traders to prove that products do not come from land which was deforested after 2020. Much of the EUDR's attention has focused on small farmers' challenges with proving that their land has not been associated with previous deforestation. Investigators said the image analysis suggests commodities on these sites have been falsely grown under the sustainable banner. Native trees cleared to grow cash crops Additionally, the analysis suggested that forest loss on NGP sites may be more widespread than previously understood. The clearing of forests included communities trying to take advantage of NGP funds. Eduardo Corona, a forest ranger in Palawan, an area of the Philippines covered in re-greening program sites, said that one of the most frustrating parts of his job was seeing the NGP used to clear native forests and being powerless to stop it, despite trying to raise the alarm. Restoring sacred forests in India To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Corona was able to obtain one of the complaints he filed with his superiors, which relates to the UNESCO-recognized Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape. The DENR Forest Management Bureau (FMB) told investigators that some forest clearing occurred as part of site preparation, particularly in areas dominated by invasive species. They claimed the clearing was a necessary step taken under technical supervision to allow native species to thrive. The bureau also explained that the monitoring of the program beyond the three-year planting contracts is limited by the scale of the program and budget constraints, with site inspections done by sampling rather than full verification. In cases where sites failed to meet survival rates, they attributed the underutilized funds to community partners' non-compliance, rather than flaws in program design. The investigation said independent audits and field reports suggest that deeper issues — including poor site selection, limited community support, and weak long-term sustainability planning — remain unaddressed. A community regreening program 'too complex' for communities to secure tenure A major selling point of the re-greening program is that local communities would be given unused land to grow crops, so they would no longer need to chop down forests to survive. But the process for applying is so complicated that most communities give up seeking long-term tenure and only get access to the land for three years. Mendoza recounted cases where community groups were given access to land but not harvest rights. Many became overwhelmed with the application process and finally gave up on trying to get long-term access. This led to despair and sometimes illegal logging activities. "The [community group] may get frustrated then [they] enter into illegal selling transactions and [are] forced to cut trees illegally," he noted. Monoculture undermines sustainable livelihoods The regreening program was also designed so that communities would be able to grow local produce for their own consumption. Instead, most are forced to grow risky cash crops for export, including exports to the European Union. According to Mendoza, communities would need both time and choices to make NGP work as intended, to figure out a sustainable mix of crops to guarantee income for their families. They got neither. For those who did manage to secure tenure, which guarantees 25-year access to the land, the government's usual mandate for community groups to grow a single cash crop often precluded any hopes for successfully living off the land. Single crop sites — often fast-growing, cheap timber trees — are vulnerable to market crashes, disease and all the other problems that monoculture brings with it, including the loss of biodiversity. Just over half of the 1 million hectares of designated production sites are tenured. Six out of 10 hectares are monoculture — sites that are growing just one commodity crop — which is widely considered unsustainable for local communities. A third of land under the NGP is both untenured and growing a single commodity crop, the least sustainable combination of all. The forgotten native forests The regreening program was also intended to regrow and protect native rainforests. Of the 130,000 sites covering over 2 million hectares across the Philippines, some sites designated as protection areas — where indigenous rainforests and the biodiversity that accompanies them were meant to thrive — have little to no tree cover. According to the latest satellite imagery, over a third of those sites have no tree cover at all. Reporting supported by Journalismfund Europe and the Environmental Data Journalism Academy, a program of Internews' Earth Journalism Network and Thibi. This article is part of the Forest Fraud investigation, which uses remote sensing technology, global supply chain tracking, and ground reporting to expose the drivers of deforestation across protected areas in Southeast Asia. Edited by: Keith Walker
Agriland
29-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Data company claims material risk of deforestation from EUDR
A data analytics company believes that deforestation is no longer just a reputational concern, it is now a material risk with 'regulatory teeth'. GlobalData claims that with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) taking effect in December 2025, companies across different sectors must prove their supply chains are deforestation-free or face severe penalties. It believes that the shift demands urgent action on traceability, supplier engagement, and sustainability strategy to preserve access to critical markets. The upcoming EUDR is a commodity-based regulation, that requires companies importing deforestation-intensive commodities to the EU to provide evidence that these products' supply chains are deforestation-free. GlobalData claims that companies that fail to comply could face a fine of up to 4% of their EU revenue or a temporary suspension from the EU market. Deforestation Strategic intelligence analyst at GlobalData, Aoife McGuirk believes that for many years certain companies have faced 'operational regulatory risk' if their operations directly contribute to the problem. She also said that the introduction of the EUDR from December 2025 means far more companies will need to mitigate the supply chain regulatory risk they face. GlobalData has claimed that the agricultural sector faces the highest level of regulatory risk 'across the board', with the second most exposed sector being the consumer. McGuirk said: 'Every company needs a strategy to mitigate deforestation risk in its many forms. GlobalData has five key recommendations companies should follow when implementing such a strategy. 'One of the biggest challenges for EUDR compliance is ensuring that supply chains are fully transparent.' 'Artificial intelligence (AI) can support anti-deforestation efforts by monitoring forests and using predictive analytics to predict where deforestation will occur, allowing stakeholders to prevent it,' she added. GlobalData also highlighted that companies should set a robust no-deforestation target to signal to consumers and regulators that they are serious about their forestry efforts. It has encouraged companies to engage with suppliers throughout the value chain to strengthen accountability and explicitly integrate the risk into their business strategies.
