FG constitutes task force on EU deforestation regulation

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The Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has inaugurated a task force on European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in order to avert ban from the EU.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari while inaugurating the task force, said deforestation and forest degradation are among the main drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss.

He said the deforestation regulation by EU entered into force on 29th June 2023 and was given an 18-month implementation period of December 2024.

Kyari said according to the EU, the commodities that present the most deforestation risk are timber, soya, palm oil, coffee, cocoa and cattle as well as selected derived products such as chocolate, leather, tires and furniture.

“The EU based on the above emphasized that any company intending to place these commodities in the EU market, or export from EU will be subjected to set of mandatory due diligence rules.

“Also, only deforestation-free product that is not subject to deforestation or forest degradation after 31st December 2020 and legal products, according to domestic laws of the country of origin will be allowed into EU market.

“With an annual non-oil export trade of 523 million Euros, the European Union (EU) is indeed not only a major trade partner but also the loss of the market due to non-compliance with EUDR presents a great threat to the cocoa, rubber, soya and timber value chains that constitute 80%, 7%, 7% and 5% respectively of the 523 million Euro export trade.

“Beyond the loss of incomes and livelihoods and the attendant socio-economic headwinds to the several millions of farmers and value chain operators in the target agricultural value chains, the anticipated reduction in non-oil foreign exchange receipts will further impair the already deteriorating Naira/Dollar exchange rates.

He said as members of the NTF on EUDR, they have an extremely urgent important duty ahead, therefore we can no longer afford to be working in silos.

“We are all gathered in this room after a careful selection process to achieve success in all agricultural value chains facing this possible ban.

“It is pertinent to note that mapping of our forest areas that was last achieved in 1959 and need for a national traceability system across our agricultural value chains is of utmost importance,” the Minister noted.

According to the Minister, parts of the terms and references of the task force include coordination of relevant stakeholders towards having a national approach on EUDR, design implementation and funding strategy for National Task Force on EUDR, review and adopt state plan for Nationwide implementation among others.

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