SINGAPORE—The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber has urged European regulators to engage with the rubber and tire industries as the European Union progresses with its draft anti-deforestation law.
The European Parliament was expected to adopt its position in the plenary session of Sept. 12 on a the draft proposal, which will see the imports of certain commodities into the region restricted.
The scope of the proposal covers six commodities of coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soya, beef and wood, at this stage, but may later be extended to other ecosystems such as natural rubber.
In a statement Sept. 8, GPSNR urged EU regulators to continue to engage with the rubber and tire sector to ensure that the decisions made will "ultimately deliver social and environmental benefits and improve smallholder livelihoods."
The Singapore-based body called for a number of factors, including the livelihood of smallholders, to be considered in any regulation addressing deforestation in the NR supply chain, including the present proposal.