STORY
The Government has announced plans for new rules aimed at preventing products sold in Great Britain from contributing to illegal deforestation overseas. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the measures would cover commodities linked to rainforest loss, including soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber.
Businesses trading in those goods would be required to check that their supply chains were not linked to illegal deforestation. The Government said the products affected are found in everyday items such as chocolate, cooking oils, shampoo and cosmetics, and that voluntary corporate action alone could not address the scale of the problem.
Nature minister Mary Creagh said tackling global deforestation was one of the most effective ways to address climate change and protect wildlife. The British Retail Consortium welcomed the announcement, while also calling for a pragmatic approach to enforcement given related EU rules due to take effect in Northern Ireland.