An Irish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) has expressed optimism regarding the potential postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), stating that it could bring positive outcomes for the Irish beef sector if approved by the European Parliament. Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, a Fianna Fáil MEP representing Ireland South, has voiced confidence in the likelihood of the 12-month delay being endorsed during a scheduled vote on November 14.
Under the EUDR, companies seeking to sell products within the EU must furnish a “due diligence” statement from suppliers confirming that the goods are not sourced from deforested areas or have contributed to forest degradation post-December 31, 2020. Originally slated to come into effect by the end of this year, the new regulation, intended to replace the EU Timber Regulations, now faces a proposed postponement by the European Commission until December 30, 2025, for large corporations and June 30, 2026, for micro and small enterprises.
Ní Mhurchú has highlighted concerns about the potential adverse effects of the regulations on the Irish beef industry. She aims to leverage the upcoming European Parliament vote to advocate for amendments that address the specific apprehensions of Irish farmers and the beef sector. The MEP emphasized the necessity for a streamlined verification process to ascertain the absence of deforestation in food products.
The EUDR was initially endorsed by the European Parliament in 2023 as part of broader initiatives aimed at combating deforestation. However, Ní Mhurchú has cautioned that unintended consequences may result in a surge of bureaucratic hurdles for Irish beef farmers. She outlined that Irish farmers could be required to furnish documentation detailing the geolocation coordinates of the farms where cattle are raised to demonstrate their deforestation-free status. Additionally, the regulations could potentially consider tree felling on their own lands as “deforestation,” thereby prohibiting the sale of beef from such areas in the EU market.
Furthermore, farmers would need to ensure that their animal feed does not contain soy or palm oil linked to deforestation overseas, as stressed by Ní Mhurchú. While acknowledging the well-meaning intentions behind the EUDR, she asserted that the current framework is flawed. The MEP acknowledged the rationale behind the regulations, which seek to prevent the destruction of vast forested regions in developing nations for cattle grazing. However, she underscored the inadvertent repercussions on the domestic beef industry.
Ní Mhurchú expressed understanding of the need for stringent measures to guarantee that beef products entering the market or being exported do not contribute to deforestation. She noted the potential burden on an industry already subject to substantial regulation. Calling for a reassessment of the situation, the Fianna Fáil MEP emphasized the necessity for a reevaluation of the regulatory approach.
