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The livestock industry has largely welcomed a proposed extension to EU legislation that could impact UK meat exports and the supply of feed ingredients like soya. The legislation requires goods sold in the EU to come from deforestation-free regions, affecting not only EU countries but also other trading partners like the UK. Originally set to take effect at the end of this year, the implementation may now be delayed for 12 months for large companies and until June 2026 for smaller enterprises.

Meat processors had expressed concerns about potential market access issues for UK exports to the EU if equivalent guarantees were not provided in time. The availability and prices of feed ingredients, such as soy and rapemeal, are expected to be influenced by the regulation. The UK is also set to introduce its own restrictions on imports from deforestation-free zones by the end of 2025.

To address these challenges, the agricultural industry has been working towards a solution, with nearly 50 organizations signing up to the UK soy manifesto. This commitment aims to ensure that all soya shipments to the UK are free from deforestation and conversion by 2025. The proposed amendment to delay the EU regulation will need approval from the European Parliament and Council before it can take effect.

Jenny Brunton, senior European policy adviser at the British Agriculture Bureau in Brussels, emphasized the need for clarity, simplification, and a feasible implementation of the regulation to address global deforestation effectively. While supporting the regulation’s objective, she stressed the importance of avoiding excessive administrative burdens for countries with low deforestation risks.

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