European non-profit International Coffee Partners (ICP) has joined the ranks of industry bodies seeking a postponement to the implementation of the European Union’s EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This move aims to afford smallholder coffee farms additional time to align with the impending legislation.
Scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2024, the EUDR mandates that businesses importing specified products into the EU—such as coffee, palm oil, soya, and wood—must furnish a due diligence statement. This statement asserts that imported goods have not contributed to forest degradation worldwide after December 31, 2020.
In a recent press release, ICP, a coalition comprised of seven entities including Delta Cafès (Portugal), Löfbergs (Sweden), Franck (Croatia), Joh. Johannson (Norway), Lavazza (Italy), and Neumann Gruppe and Tchibo (Germany), emphasized that many smallholder coffee farmers lack suitable data provision systems or the financial means to comply with the EUDR. Consequently, they risk exclusion from the EU market.
The coalition cautioned that without an extended transition period, coffee farmers might divert their sales to non-EU countries. Such a move, it argued, would contradict the objective of curbing coffee-related deforestation.
While acknowledging the importance of the EUDR, ICP advocates for an extended transition phase and increased support for smallholder coffee farmers to establish necessary data provision infrastructure.
“While the EUDR represents a crucial stride towards deforestation-free coffee production, it must also consider the interests of smallholder farmers. Otherwise, there’s a risk of diminishing their incomes and market shares, exacerbating their susceptibility to poverty, and hindering their potential transition to sustainable agriculture,” ICP emphasized.
Earlier in February 2024, the European Coffee Federation (ECF), comprising notable European coffee companies like illycaffè, JDE Peet’s, Lavazza, Paulig, and Nestlé, appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reassess the EUDR’s timeline. They warned of significant disruptions to the global coffee supply chain and restricted access to the EU market for coffee-producing nations in Africa and Asia.
Subsequently, the EU indicated a delay in its planned categorization of deforestation risk countries as ‘low’, ‘standard’, or ‘high risk’. Instead, all countries will be listed as ‘medium’ risk to avoid disadvantaging certain producer countries.
While some organizations advocate for postponing the regulations, others are proactively ensuring compliance with the rules. In February 2024, Amsterdam-based JDE Peet’s partnered with sustainability auditor Enveritas to utilize satellite imagery, artificial intelligence (AI), and on-the-ground verification to monitor deforestation associated with coffee production in Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda. The company pledges reforestation financing for every identified instance of deforestation in its supply chain.
Similarly, Hamburg-based coffee roaster Tchibo collaborates with Enveritas to conduct independent assessments of its supply chain. This initiative forms part of Tchibo’s commitment to sourcing 100% of its coffee responsibly by 2027.