Indonesia has voiced strong opposition to the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), warning that its strict due diligence and traceability requirements unfairly burden smallholder farmers and threaten key export sectors such as palm oil, cocoa, rubber, and coffee. Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno argued that the regulation, which mandates proof that products are deforestation-free after December 31, 2020, is nearly impossible for small producers and cooperatives to comply with, especially when dealing with mixed-origin inputs like cocoa. He emphasized that while Indonesia supports sustainability, the EUDR was crafted without input from the producers it most affects, undermining local efforts to build sustainable supply chains. In response, Indonesia has taken diplomatic and strategic steps to counter the regulation. At the recent BRICS Summit, the country successfully inserted language into the Leaders’ Declaration rejecting the EUDR and advocating for global sustainability standards on its own terms. Havas criticized the broader trend of one-sided environmental standards imposed by developed countries, calling for Indonesia to assert its role in shaping global trade norms. He also highlighted the need to diversify export markets and improve product offerings, citing investments in North African fertilizer plants as a way to access EU markets through alternative trade routes. Indonesia, he stressed, must move beyond passive compliance and actively define sustainability standards that reflect its economic realities.Source: https://indonesiabusinesspost.com/4694/policy-and-governance/indonesia-warns-eu-deforestation-rules-threaten-small-farmers-exports (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: Indonesia Business Post, 8 July 2025