Beef exports under threat from EU deforestation rules

Meat processors are warning of a total loss of access to the all-important EU market for beef from next year, blaming Defra for failing to comply with the EU’s new deforestation regulations.

These rules will kick in fully in 2025 and are designed to ensure that any products consumed within the EU do not contribute to global deforestation – particularly when it is related to agricultural land.

See also: Beef prices set to rise into 2025 as supplies tighten

Any trader who places commodities on the EU market must be able to prove that the products have not been derived from or contributed to forest degradation.

According to the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), all other countries that trade with the EU are actively creating government-backed systems to comply.

But it says the UK government has done nothing so far, and suggests Defra just wants the industry to sort it out.

Competent authority 

The BMPA insists it can’t simply be a commercial, industry-level system and has to have the backing and weight of government behind it, with a named “competent authority”.

BMPA’s chief executive Nick Allen said: “We’ve seen presentations from competitor countries like Argentina who have created impressive government-backed systems to comply with the new EU deforestation regulation.

“They’re now poised to step in from day one to supply fully-compliant beef into the EU and will be more than willing to take Britain’s slice of the market.

“Labour must take this seriously. These new requirements are now part of EU law. Whether or not they choose to delay the 1 January 2025 deadline, we will have to comply and we will need government to play its part.”

Without a formal scheme, the BMPA fears the UK would have to cease exporting beef to the EU, a market that accounts for 90% of the UK’s £580m worth of beef exports.

Defra has been asked for a comment.