On the afternoon of November 15 in Hanoi, a workshop on "Technical exchange on EUDR and value chains that do not cause deforestation and forest degradation" took place.
The workshop was organized by the EU Delegation to Vietnam in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to further review the recently published guidance by the EU, questions from stakeholders and exchange information on options for tools to promote traceability in supply chains in Vietnam.
Accordingly, the EU Regulation on the Management of Imports and Exports of Deforestation and Degradation-Free Products (EUDR) requires that certain agricultural products imported into the EU market or exported from the EU do not cause deforestation and (in the case of wood) do not cause forest degradation as of 31 December 2020 and are legal under relevant national law.
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| On the afternoon of November 15, the EU Delegation to Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had a technical exchange session on EUDR (Photo: Provided by GIZ) |
Following the success of the technical meeting in July 2024, this meeting focused on aspects of traceability and provided an opportunity for stakeholders in Vietnam to directly raise questions about the EUDR and its impact on the coffee, wood and rubber sectors. The meeting served as a platform to promote dialogue between the EU and Vietnam on how to work together to ensure sustainable, legally produced and deforestation-free products reach the EU market.
The meeting was attended by more than 200 delegates, including representatives from government agencies, the private sector, associations of the three wood, rubber and coffee industries, as well as non-governmental organizations. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. To Viet Chau, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department, MARD and Dr. Rui Ludovino - First Counsellor for Climate Action, Environment, Employment and Social Policy, EU Delegation to Vietnam.
Before the event, Mr. To Viet Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, emphasized: “ Although the European Commission (EC) is considering a proposal to delay the application of EUDR, Vietnam has not delayed its preparation and adaptation to the requirements of this regulation. This demonstrates Vietnam's strong commitment to building sustainable, deforestation-free supply chains that meet international standards. This initiative will help Vietnam be ready to meet the requirements of EUDR, thereby strengthening its position as a responsible, transparent and sustainable agricultural supplier in the international market.”
Representative of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, Dr. Rui Ludovino affirmed: " To ensure the effective and legally transparent implementation of the EUDR, this regulation, originally scheduled to apply from December 2024, can now be postponed to December 2025 for large enterprises and June 2026 for small and medium-sized enterprises. With the proposal to extend the preparation period by 12 months, the EU wishes to create conditions for all enterprises, third countries and other stakeholders to have more time to prepare for the implementation of the EUDR ".
Given the developments in the EUDR, the pressing timetable and the diversity of international stakeholders, the Commission considers that a 12-month extension is a balanced solution that will allow businesses around the world to implement the system smoothly from the start. This extension proposal would not change the objective or content of the law, as agreed by EU lawmakers.
The EU is committed to continuing to support stakeholders in Vietnam by providing the tools and information needed to understand the EUDR, a key element in the global effort to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. The EU will use this time to increase its support to third countries and other partners, and continue to implement existing dialogue and cooperation projects, focusing on legality, traceability, and the inclusion of smallholders, among other important elements.
Earlier, on November 14 (local time), the European Parliament voted to approve a one-year postponement of the EUDR. This proposal received 371 votes in favor and 240 votes against.
Under the new decision, large businesses and operators will have until December 30, 2025 to fully comply with the EUDR requirements. Meanwhile, small and micro businesses will be given an extension until June 30, 2026.
| Previously, in October, the European Commission (EC) proposed postponing the implementation of the EUDR by another 12 months, until December 2025. This proposal was made after receiving feedback from 20 EU member states, a number of global businesses and business associations, as well as major exporting countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, and the United States. The EC's proposal does not change the core content of the law and has therefore received support from EU member governments. The decision was made in response to concerns raised by some EU member states, businesses and non-EU partner countries. However, the delay in the implementation of the EUDR has also caused controversy as it is seen as slowing progress in protecting forests and reducing environmental impacts. |
Source: https://congthuong.vn/lui-mot-nam-thuc-thi-eudr-viet-nam-them-thoi-gian-dam-bao-chuoi-cung-ung-359026.html
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