International Coffee Partners (ICP) have called for a delay in the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The seven ICP members—Delta Cafés, Franck, Joh. Johannson, Lavazza, Löfbergs, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, and Tchibo—argue that smallholder coffee farmers need more time and resources to comply with the stringent requirements. While ICP supports the EUDR's objectives of protecting production areas and promoting reforestation, they stress that the readiness of smallholder farmers must be considered. These farmers currently lack the technical capacity and financial resources to provide the necessary geodata by the end of 2024, risking exclusion from EU markets. ICP cited a readiness assessment in Uganda, showing that only 10% of Ugandan coffee producers can currently trace their coffee origins. The EUDR's complex verification process could reduce smallholders’ incomes and market shares, pushing them toward poverty and countering the regulation's goals. To avoid these adverse effects, ICP recommends a phased transition to build the required infrastructure and knowledge among smallholder farmers.
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