Bolsonaro’s government criticizes the European Union’s proposal to ban imports linked to deforestation

Government ministers Jair Bolsonaro (no party) criticized this Monday (22) a proposal by the European Commission to ban the import of agribusiness products considered strongly linked to deforestation and forest degradation.

In a press statement about the results of COP26, the UN conference on climate change, Environment Minister Joaquim Leite said the initiative is “unacceptable, unacceptable”.

He and Minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) said that the proposal is “climate protectionism”.

The Commission’s proposal could reach some of the most exported commodities in Brazil, such as soy and beef. The idea is to establish auditing rules, by which exporters of products with a risk of being linked to environmental problems must guarantee that they are free from deforestation and legal.

For this, foreign trade companies will be obliged, if the proposal is approved, to collect the geographic coordinates of the land where the goods they place on the market were produced.

“I find it unacceptable, inadmissible to make such a move, especially on a climate issue. We have a climate conference that reached consensus, I don’t think it has to make unilateral policy, imposing the rule of a bloc or a country,” stated Leite.

“It is a move that should not be accepted by Brazil,” said the minister of the Environment.

Tereza Cristina defended that the proposal be changed. She cited the debate about improving product traceability as the most positive example.

The rule even covers the cutting of trees considered legal in the legislation of the country of origin of the products. According to the Commission, this is due to the fact that illegal deforestation has been overcome by the expansion of agricultural areas as the main cause of forest destruction.

The text still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and the European Council (which brings together the leaders of the 27 members), but the tendency is for it to be well received.

The proposal must conflict with the Brazilian Forest Code, considered one of the most advanced internationally, which stipulates mandatory reserve limits in each region.