By: Natalia Monroy Ramírez, companion of Posse Herrera Ruiz
Concerns concerning the impression of local weather change led members of the European Union to signal the “European Green Deal”. The settlement features a collection of initiatives that search to advertise environmental change to attain local weather neutrality by 2050. The European Green Deal has its goals to revive biodiversity, create a sustainable meals mannequin, undertake round manufacturing and consumption programs, take measures to advertise the usage of clear power and cease deforestation. Environmental safety creates rigidity throughout the framework of globalization, so it’s essential to ask how this settlement impacts Colombia’s exports to the European Union?
The impression of this program will result in the usage of boundaries to the export of merchandise from Colombia to the European Union, so it’s essential to make an in depth and everlasting monitoring of recent regulatory developments. Among different issues, the European Union (i) applied a regulation on deforestation; (ii) change the pesticide residue restrict; and (iii) undertake a mechanism to regulate the carbon emission restrict.
Deforestation Laws
The regulation will have an effect on the export of espresso, cocoa and palm oil to the European Union, as Colombian producers should show that they’re deforestation-free merchandise. Among different necessities, it have to be ensured that merchandise come from areas that haven’t been deforested after December 31, 2020 and that relevant laws (environmental, labor and human rights regulation) are complied with. Colombian corporations should present all info requested by European Union prospects, who should put together due diligence.
Most of the obligations of this regulation will come into drive on 30 December 2024.
This regulation undoubtedly means a problem for Colombian exporters, who should enhance their info programs, traceability capability and guarantee compliance.
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides
The European Union has established most residue limits (MRL) that meals and foodstuffs to be marketed within the European Union might include. In the management of pests of agricultural merchandise (cocoa, fruits, palm oil, amongst others) the usage of pesticides can result in the MRL being exceeded in some instances. These restrictions have been modified final yr by Regulation 2023/915 of the European Union Commission of April 25, 2023. In this sense, the target of the Green Deal is to scale back the usage of pesticides by 50% by 2030.
Therefore, you’ll need to begin different methods to scale back the usage of chemical substances in agricultural manufacturing.
How to repair carbon emission limits
The carbon offset mechanism (CBM), which can come into impact in 2026, will drive importers to purchase certificates equal to the quantity of carbon that might work if those self same items have been produced within the European Union. The worth of the certificates might be decided by the quantity of carbon emitted from the manufacturing of the great. In the meantime, some reporting obligations have come into impact for importers of those merchandise.
CBAM will enhance the price of sourcing merchandise from different nations, not counting the executive prices, time and procedures concerned of their implementation. Although initially, CBAM will solely work on the import of sure merchandise (iron, metal, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, hydrogen and electrical energy era), in follow it’s attainable that this record might be expanded sooner or later.
The National Government has expressed at completely different instances the necessity to negotiate with the European Union concerning the implementation of the European Green Deal. It is critical to focus on the outcomes of the ‘Colombia Exports Sustainable’ mission, carried out by Al Invest Verde and ProfessionalColombia, printed on May 15, 2024, which proposes a information to develop the agricultural export sector throughout the framework of sustainability.
A joint initiative between the 2 Governments and the personal sector might be necessary to have the ability to make a harmonious environmental change, which permits the strain with overseas commerce to be lowered and which takes under consideration the tradition, economic system, location and historic particulars of Colombia. .