European Union
In response to requests from companies and Member States, the European Union has extended the implementation date for the Deforestation Regulation
Key aspects
- The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CS3D”) introduces corporate human rights and environmental due diligence obligations.
- Although these obligations apply only to companies meeting high employee and turnover thresholds, other European Union (“EU”) legislation refers to this standard of business conduct.
- In this context, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 (“Regulation” or “Deforestation Regulation”) extends the obligation to anyone who places or makes available on the EU market—or exports from the EU—certain products that cause or are likely to cause deforestation.
- The Regulation prohibits making certain commodities or products available on the EU market, such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya and wood, unless they meet certain due diligence requirements.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/3234 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 extends the implementation date for the Deforestation Regulation from December 30, 2024, to December 30, 2025.