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Coffee maker Lavazza wants to delay the EU deforestation legislation

Lavazza, a coffee maker, called on Wednesday for a delay of one year in the implementation of EU's deforestation laws. The company said that its implementation would harm producers in Africa and Central America as well as drive up prices.

Companies importing products like soya, beef, cacao, coffee and other related goods must prove that their supply chain does not contribute to deforestation. Otherwise, they will be fined.

Giuseppe Lavazza, chairman of Lavazza, told reporters in London that he wanted the legislation to be delayed for an additional year, mainly for coffee.

He said that the cocoa industry is better prepared than coffee because it has fewer countries producing it.

The chairman of the committee said that the proposed law may be worse for the coffee market than tariffs. He added that countries like Ethiopia would find it difficult to comply with new rules because there is a lack clarity regarding land ownership.

Lavazza echoed a similar message this month by Mondelez, the parent company of Cadbury.

Nestle, the world's biggest packaged food company, wrote last week to the European Commission in support of deforestation regulations. Their letter, seen by's, stated that a delay would damage the EU's credibility.

The letter was signed by Nestle, Ferrero, and Danone.

Environmental groups are also opposed to efforts to delay or weaken legislation.

Hannah Mowat is the campaign coordinator for Fern. She said: "Reopening the Law now would be catastrophic to the EU's business partner reputation and would send a terrible signal as we approach COP30, which will be held in Brazil."

After criticism from the industry, the EU has already delayed its launch for a year, to December 2025. (Additional reporting by Kate Abnett and May Angel in London, Editing by Mark Potter.)

(source: Reuters)