Australia’s cattle industry says delay is chance for a rethink of Europe’s deforestation law

After sustained lobbying from governments, including Australia’s, the European Union has agreed to delay its controversial deforestation importation policy.

Cattle Australia wants the EU to accept Australian vegetation management practices are not the same as deforestation. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Graziers have welcomed the ­European Union’s proposal to delay implementing a deforestation policy that put Australia’s $10bn beef export sector at risk, and called on the bloc to use the extra time to better understand Australian vegetation management practices.

The European Commission announced this week that it would seek a 12-month delay of the controversial deforestation regulation, which was due to come into effect in December, to “give concerned parties additional time to prepare”.

It comes after significant lobbying from Canberra on behalf of the Australian beef industry to urge the EU to wait until it had clearer definitions around deforestation before implementing the regulation.

Last month, the Senate passed a bipartisan urgency motion raised by Labor and the Coalition, which called for reconsideration of the law, which would force importers to ensure certain commodities – including beef, soy, timber and dairy – were not produced on land that had been deforested since 2020.

Graziers are concerned that the EU’s definition of deforestation does not class Australia’s rangeland cattle properties as agricultural land or recognise legal vegetation management.

Cattle Australia chief executive Chris Parker said the EU should use the time to clarify compliance regulations and accept the equivalency of Australian definitions of agricultural land and vegetation laws.

“CA will continue working with the Australian government to strengthen the advocacy for the Australian LMC (Land Management Commitment Strategy) to be accepted on the international stage in order to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of our environment,” Dr Parker said.

Cattle Australia chief executive Chris Parker

But the European Commission warned that the substance of its regulation would not change.

“The extension proposal in no way puts into question the objectives or the substance of the law, as agreed by the EU co-legislators,” the commission said in a statement.

While beef exports into the EU are relatively small at a value of $130m, the beef sector fears the EU’s regulations could set a precedent for other countries and corporations to follow.

Labor senator Raff Ciccone, who introduced the urgency motion, said the EU’s decision was good news for Australian farmers.

“A delay in the implementation of the regulation will provide an opportunity for the Australian government to further work with the EU to ensure the measure does not impose requirements that create unnecessary barriers to our exports,” Senator Ciccone said.

Environmentalists said affected industries should use the time to adapt their methods, rather than continuing to lobby the EU to accept an Australian-centric definition of deforestation.

Australian Conservation Foundation business and biodiversity lead Nathaniel Pelle categorised Australia alongside Indonesia and Brazil and accused it of being a “laggard” when it came to ending deforestation.

“Most Australian graziers do not engage in broadscale bulldozing of bushland, but it’s hard for consumers to choose deforestation-free beef from responsible farmers, or for export markets to be sure they aren’t importing deforestation, because of weak traceability and persistent clearing by a minority,” Mr Pelle said.

“The Australian government should focus on supporting farmers who are already genuinely deforestation-free to help them make the most of the economic opportunity in meeting the growing demand for sustainable food.”

Wilderness Society Queensland campaigns manager Hannah Schuch said agricultural and forestry industries needed to adapt to retain customer trust and access to markets like the EU.

“It’s a grace period for industry and government to get their systems in place, it’s not a grace period to carry out more habitat destruction,” Ms Schuch said.