Delay to EU deforestation law confirmed after countries approve

BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - European Union countries on Tuesday approved a year's delay to the bloc's anti-deforestation law, confirming the postponement of the world-first green policy, the Council of the EU said in a statement.

The delay to the law, which was scheduled to be implemented later this month, is a blow to the EU's green agenda, which is facing pushback from industries and some governments that say EU measures to fight climate change are too onerous.

But it offers relief to companies and EU trading partners, including the United States and Brazil, which oppose the policy and warn it will upend trade as many firms struggle to comply.

The sign-off from governments on Wednesday finalises a December 2025 start date for the EU's policy to ban the import of soy, beef, coffee, palm oil and other goods linked to the destruction of forests.

Brazil and Indonesia had branded the law protectionist and said it could exclude millions of poor, small-scale farmers from the EU market. Other pushback had come fr...
[Short citation of 8% of the original article]