The International Coffee Partners (ICP), a coalition of seven leading European coffee companies, has called for a delay in the implementation of the European Union's EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to give smallholder coffee farmers more time to comply. The EUDR, which will come into effect on December 30, 2024, mandates that businesses importing products like coffee, palm oil, and wood into the EU must provide a due diligence statement confirming that their goods have not contributed to deforestation since December 31, 2020. The ICP argues that most smallholder coffee farmers lack the necessary data capture capabilities and financial resources to meet these requirements, risking their exclusion from the EU market. The coalition warns that this could drive farmers to sell to non-EU countries, counteracting efforts to reduce coffee-linked deforestation. While the ICP supports the EUDR’s objectives, it seeks an extended transition period and additional support for farmers to develop suitable data provision systems. Other industry bodies, like the European Coffee Federation, have also expressed concerns about the regulation's timeline, citing potential disruptions to the global coffee supply chain. Some companies, however, are taking proactive measures to comply, employing technologies like satellite imagery and AI to monitor deforestation and support reforestation efforts.
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