Government on course to meet EU deforestation regulations

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr Andrew Karanja (center) and other stakeholders during the 2024 National World Food Day Forum at Kaimosi, Nandi County. [@kilimoKE, X]

The government has assured all coffee growers, value chain actors, operators, and buyers that the government is on track to meet the deadline for the European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR).

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr Andrew Karanja said the government has implemented measures to ensure they meet the deadline.

Among the measures taken include a cabinet memo that is being prepared to keep the cabinet informed on Kenya's progress towards EUDR compliance. Other measures include a committee of experts formed to evaluate Kenya's readiness and develop comprehensive compliance among others.

The CS further said there is a need for compliance with the Data Protection Act 2017 unauthorized entities are strictly prohibited from collecting data, analyzing, or storing growers' information.

Karanja's sentiments come barely two days after the Council of European Union agreed on its position on the targeted amendment of the EU deforestation regulation, postponing its date of application by 12 months

This postponement will allow third countries, member states, operators, and traders to be fully prepared to ensure that certain commodities and products sold in the EU or exported from the EU are deforestation-free.

This includes products made from cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and some of their derived products.

The deforestation regulation has already been in force since 29 June 2023 and its provisions are to be applied from 30 December 2024. The Council agreed to the Commission's proposal to postpone the application date of the regulation by one year.

Therefore, if agreed by the European Parliament, the obligations stemming from this regulation will be binding from December 30, 2025, for large operators and traders on June 30, 2026, for micro- and small enterprises.