The European Union has passed a new law that prohibits the import of products linked to deforestation, including coffee. This law, which goes into effect at the end of 2024, will require importers of commodities such as coffee, cocoa, livestock, and palm to prove that their products are not contributing to deforestation or face heavy fines. However, many producer countries have expressed concerns that the law may exclude small farmers from accessing the EU market as meeting the requirements could be difficult for farmers in remote regions.
JDE Peet’s, a major coffee company, is facing challenges in complying with the new EU law. Despite efforts to simplify some aspects of the law, the company is still struggling to meet the requirements by the deadline. They have been working on mapping and monitoring coffee regions in several countries using satellite imagery and on-the-ground verification, but still need agreements with more countries to ensure continued imports.
The tight deadline for compliance has caused many EU member countries to call for the law to be scaled back or temporarily suspended. They fear even farmers within the EU may have difficulty meeting all necessary requirements. However, the European Commission has indicated openness to discussions with industry stakeholders about addressing concerns about application of this law. In response JDE Peet’s is working against time to ensure compliance and continuation of its operations while other companies are doing same too.
