The EU’s Deforestation Regulation Sparks Protests from Farmers and Governments

Mace | 16th March 2023 | Uncategorised

Rural communities unable to participate in supply chain to Europe risk being left behind

Hundreds of Malaysian farmers this week gathered in Kuala Lumpur to protest against the EU’s ‘Deforestation Regulation’. Banners including “No to EU” and “EU is Selfish” were unfurled as the farmers presented a petition to the EU Ambassador, Michalis Rokas. The protest is the latest in a string of efforts in the southeast Asian nation aimed squarely at the regulation because it explicitly identifies palm oil and rubber (among others) as commodities that are a risk for deforestation. Palm oil and rubber are both major exports for Malaysia, with around 2.5 million small farmers in the country involved in complex supply chains that end up exporting the commodities around the world. Senior politicians, including the Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof, have openly criticised the EU’s approach to palm oil under the Regulation. In a speech to the Malaysian Parliament in early March, Fadillah said “Malaysia will continue to demonstrate its objections to the [ EU Deforestation Regulation] and...

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