Solidaridad supports joint statement by CSOs on EU regulation on smallholder-inclusive deforestation-free products

We welcome the game changing amendments introduced by the Parliament, which have the potential
to enable an inclusive implementation of the regulation in smallholder-intensive sectors.

Therefore, we urge the negotiators to support the Parliament’s call to include the following elements
in the final regulation:

• Including human rights protected under international law in the scope of the regulation, in
  particular instruments protecting customary tenure rights and the right to Free, Prior and
  Informed Consent (as set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  and the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (No 169 1989 Ensuring that these rights are
  respected is crucial to tackle global deforestation.

• Ensuring that the costs of compliance are not pushed down to smallholders, and that they
  are shared fairly amongst supply chains’ actors in accordance with their respective capacities.
  
• Including an obligation for operators to undertake reasonable and documented efforts to
  support the compliance of smallholders’ products in line with the requirements set out in the
  regulation It implies adequate assistance such as investments, capacity building, as well as fair
  pricing mechanisms which are essential to address structural underlying patterns that prevent
  smallholders from producing in a sustainable and deforestation free way.
  
• Outlining an obligation for operators to engage meaningfully with vulnerable stakeholders
  in their supply chains such as smallholders, forest communities, Indigenous Peoples and local
  communities, to inform their due diligence process.
  
• Including a reference to a comprehensive and time bound strategy on supply side measures
  to be developed by the Commission with specific attention to the needs of smallholders and
  forest communities to transition towards sustainable farming and forestry practices, and
  produce compliant products according to the requirements of the regulation.

Shaping a smallholder-inclusive EU regulation is the prerequisite for a future proof and fair
regulatory framework that can effectively reduce global deforestation, while ensuring no one is left
behind.

Please refer to the list of signatories in the official joint statement document.