The European Union has been searching for ways to reduce its footprint in different sectors to support trade becoming more responsible. Knowing that the consumption of agro commodities, such as soy, palm oil and cacao, is highly correlated to this matter, the European Union is undertaking a process focused on policies and laws, increasing sustainability and creating a coherent and clear message for the whole supply chain: from farmers to traders, feed and food producers, to brands and retailers. In order to achieve a long-term positive effect on agro commodity trade, it is crucial to concentrate on conversion-free and deforestation-free production.
With this purpose, the International Union for Conservation of Nature in the Netherlands (IUCN NL)[1], learning from currently voluntary commodity standards and frameworks for good business conduct, has proposed five minimum criteria to be adopted as mandatory across EU policy and regulation.
In general terms those include: verified legal compliance in the products’ country of origin, compliance with general good business practice, respecting human and labor rights and climate- and the implementation of biodiversity-smart agricultural practices.
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