EU’s own goal by excluding leather from deforestation law
The European Commission has outlined its final decision on the scope of the EUDR legislation with leather set to be excluded, despite beef and leather being key drivers of deforestation in Brazil and other Latin American countries.
According to the Commission’s Staff working document imported hides are linked to around 17% of the deforestation associated with products covered by the EUDR, representing around 39,000 hectares of global forest loss annually – that’s around 60,000 soccer pitches.
The leather industry has been lobbying hard for leather to be exempt from the EUDR to protect its own interests, falsely claiming that it doesn’t drive deforestation and human rights abuses. The meat industry and the leather trade are inextricably linked; it’s impossible to access the meat without first removing the cowhide.
Despite numerous calls from the scientific community, civil society, and citizens to ensure that leather remains within the scope of the regulation, the European Commission has upheld its initial proposal. In the Commission’s public consultation on the changes to the EUDR, which closed on 1 June, around 81% of European citizens wanted leather within the scope of the Regulation.
The European Commission has also published an Implemented Act which provides the operational framework for the Information System.
Isabel Fernandez, Senior Adviser at Mighty Earth said:
“Kicking leather into the long grass, is an own goal for the EU. By kowtowing to the leather lobby, it is undermining its own commitment to protect climate and nature with its ground-breaking, zero-deforestation legislation.”
“But the game is far from over. With the Implemented Act also setting the technical rules for the EUDR Information System. the European Commission must now ensure the Regulation is effectively implemented from 30 December 2026, without further concessions. As we reach the final stage, only robust enforcement can safeguard the credibility of the EUDR and protect the forests we all rely on to cool our rapidly warming world.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Carole Mitchell | Global Director of Communications
+44 7917 105000
Isabel Fernandez Cruz | Senior Advisor for Spain
[email protected] +34 675 510 933
Notes to Editors
Useful links
Why the EUDR must cover leather
RAPID RESPONSE #7 – Monitoring deforestation in Brazilian supply chains
About Mighty Earth
Mighty Earth is a global advocacy organization working to defend a living planet. Our goal is to protect Nature and secure a climate that allows life to flourish. We are obsessed with impact, and our team has achieved transformative change by persuading leading industries to dramatically reduce deforestation and climate pollution throughout their global supply chains in palm oil, rubber, cocoa, and animal feed, while improving livelihoods for Indigenous and local communities across the tropics. www.mightyearth.org
