EU law to ban import of deforestation-linked produce
In 2021, Ireland imported around €1.5bn of livestock feed, including around 508,000 tonnes of maize from Brazil and a million tonnes of soybean meal from Argentina.
New rules set in Brussels will ban the importation of goods, such as soya, connected with deforestation in a bid to fight global deforestation, climate change and biodiversity loss.
Passed with overwhelming support, with 552 votes in favour, 44 against, and 43 abstentions, the new law covers cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper products, and obliges companies to ensure products sold in the EU have not led to deforestation and forest degradation.
