Ministers urged to introduce rules on products linked to deforestation

MPS have called on ministers to introduce long-awaited rules aimed at removing products from UK shelves that have been farmed on land where trees were cut down.

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The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) wrote to Environment Secretary Steve Reed calling for urgent action to tackle the issue in supply chains.

Under the previous Government's proposals, businesses will be prohibited from using or selling goods containing palm oil, cocoa, beef, leather and soy linked to deforestation.

This due diligence system was part of the 2021 Environment Act but ministers are yet to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation or set a timetable for when they will do so.

EAC chairman Toby Perkins asked Mr Reed to set out a specific date for introducing the legislation “ideally before the New Year” so that the rules can be in place for the new financial year in April.