Colombia Well- Advanced in Implementing European Union Deforestation Law; Welcomes Possible Extension
Colombia Well- Advanced in Implementing European Union Deforestation Law; Welcomes Possible Extension
Bogota (Coffee Network) - Colombia, the world’s third-largest coffee producer, is well-prepared to meet the January 2025 European Union deforestation law, but if the EU’ lawmakers approve the extension by 12 months, the totality of the 650,000 coffee families will be capable of fulfilling with the whole regulation, Gustavo Gomez, general manager of the Colombian coffee exporters association Asoexport said in an interview.
Colombia is more advanced in the so-called traceability and georeferencing of coffee farms as the coffee platform SICA, known as the coffee information system, has the information of the 650,000 coffee families. The SICA information has been crossed with the recently launched coffee regulation platform implemented by the coffee growers federation, which identifies the producer and georeferences their farms, Gomez told Coffee Network in an interview.
Overall, some 24% of Colombia’s total coffee exports are shipped by the European Union. Colombia exported 7.787 million 60-kg bags.
The traceability and georeferencing is also advanced as 30%-40% of Colombia’s coffee exports are certified coffee, which is synonym of traceability.
Recently, the Council agreed on its position on the targeted amendment of the EU deforestation regulation, postponing its date of application by 12 months.
This postponement will allow third countries, member states, operators, and traders to be fully prepared in their due diligence obligations, which is to ensure that certain commodities and products sold in the EU or exported from the EU are deforestation-free. This includes products made from cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and some of their derived products.
Another aspect is legality. The EU has enforced a so-called “due diligence” statement confirming that the product does not come from deforested land or has led to forest degradation, including of irreplaceable primary forests, after 31 December 2020. The matrix of regulations says market participants must comply with land rights, human rights, and labor rights, respect of the environment and indigenous.
“Each exporter has already carried out its own legal analysis, but there is pending the government’s position on the definition of legality. We are working with the Ministry of Agriculture, the FNC, and the European Forest Institute to define what represents legality,” Gomez said. “As a country, we must define which regulations are applicable and we hope to have it between November and December,” he said.
In Colombia, less than 4% of the 840,000 hectares dedicated to coffee have been identified as areas likely deforested to plant coffee.
This topic along with global consumption trends as well as the European Green Pact and artificial intelligence applied to coffee consumption will be discussed during the 88th coffee conference to be held in Cartagena between November 7 and November 8.
OTHER TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
Asoexport will also request the government for more security as coffee growers and roasting companies are facing increased extortion.
“Pamphlets arrive at farms and threshing plants amid increased extortion. There is a complicated security situation,” Gomez added
Colombia is experiencing an unprecedented increase in extortion, kidnappings and attacks from armed groups as President Gustavo Petro has promised "total peace" with the groups. Petro’s presidency ends in August 2026.
The coffee exporters association Asoexport will also request the government increased security. Road blockades have surpassed 500 blockades preventing coffee exports from reaching ports timely.
By Diana Delgado
