Michelin in support of NR inclusion in EU deforestation regulations

PARIS—Michelin has voiced support for the inclusion of natural rubber in proposed European Union deforestation regulations, provided that necessary amendments are made to address traceability in the industry.

In a statement issued Nov. 25, the French group said it was "in favor of any actions and regulations for a sustainable natural rubber industry that considers the specificities of the value chain."

The value-chain, the tire and rubber products maker said, is "composed of millions of rubber farmers, and hundreds of thousands of intermediaries."

Therefore, Michelin said, it supports to the inclusion of NR in the deforestation regulation if "traceability's requirements are adapted to the (complex and fragmented) natural rubber supply-chain."

The group said this means extending traceability requirements to an area greater than a single plot of land, and considering traceability at district level—for example, 25 kilometers by 25 kilometers.

The current draft EU regulation aims to prohibit the sale of six agricultural products—coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soya, beef and wood—linked to deforestation.

Natural rubber is not currently included in the list of commodities, but the European Parliament is pushing to include the product within the regulation.

Final discussions on the issue between EU member states, the European Parliament and the European Commission were to take place on Dec. 5.