The European Parliament has adopted new legislation aimed at curbing global deforestation. With the aim of combating climate change and biodiversity loss, the new law obliges European Union (EU) companies to ensure that products sold in the bloc have not caused deforestation or forest degradation, according to a statement released by Parliament on Wednesday (19).

Products covered by the legislation include cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soybeans and timber, as well as products that contain, have been fed these commodities or have been produced with them, such as leather, chocolate and furniture, the statement said.

Between 1990 and 2020, an area larger than that of the EU was lost to deforestation, with the bloc's consumption accounting for about 10 percent of the losses, the statement said.

Source: Canal Rural