The German Sawmill and Timber Industry Association (DeSH) warmly welcomes the 'Clean Industrial Deal' presented by the European Commission today and emphasizes the importance of a strong European economy and enhanced competitiveness. The association considers the Omnibus Package, which was also presented today to reduce bureaucracy, to be a first step in the right direction but criticizes the lack of consideration for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). While the general supply chain regulation is set to be significantly simplified, the forestry and timber industries continue to face bureaucratic hurdles. Therefore, the association calls on the European Commission to also adjust the EUDR as part of the Omnibus Package in order to streamline the regulations for specific supply chains.<\/p>\n
\"We explicitly welcome the initiatives presented today by the European Commission as important steps in the right direction. With the 'Clean Industrial Deal,' the Commission is now placing sustainable economic development at the center of its policy for the future viability of Europe. The proposed Omnibus Regulation also shows that Brussels aims to reduce the growing burdens of reporting and documentation requirements on the European economy. It is therefore incomprehensible that the EUDR is not part of the initiative to reduce bureaucracy,\" comments Julia M\u00f6bus, Managing Director of DeSH. In November, the deadlines for the EUDR\u2019s implementation were extended by twelve months to the end of 2025. Proposals for substantive adjustments to the regulation failed to gain majority support in the European Council. \"While key regulations such as sustainability reporting (CSRD), the supply chain law (CSDDD), the EU taxonomy, and the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) are addressed in the Omnibus Package, the European Commission missed the opportunity today to avoid an additional wave of bureaucracy for many companies by including the EUDR in the package,\" M\u00f6bus criticizes.<\/p>\n
Excessive burdens on Europe compared globally<\/strong><\/p>\n Strengthening Europe as a business location is one of the central tasks for the coming years. The forestry and timber industry in Germany and Europe is distinguished by internationally leading sustainability and environmental standards. \"As an industry, we explicitly support the goal of curbing global deforestation and preventing forest damage. However, we continue to question whether the EUDR is an appropriate tool to achieve these goals effectively. Given potential reliefs for Mercosur countries and the announced US tariffs, the EUDR will primarily lead to a significant weakening of the international competitiveness of German and European companies,\" M\u00f6bus points out.<\/p>\n Incorporating forests and timber into bureaucracy reduction<\/strong><\/p>\n \"To avoid unnecessary burdens on the European forestry and timber industries, we urge the European Commission to review the EUDR in light of current global political developments and economic consequences and to include it in the Omnibus Package.\" A revision of the EUDR within the framework of the regulation would not only effectively reduce bureaucracy but also strengthen sustainable economic development in the EU. \"Forests and timber play a crucial role in the climate-friendly transformation of the economy and society, but companies need conditions that ensure their competitiveness and are practically implementable,\" M\u00f6bus concludes.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The German Sawmill and Timber Industry Association (DeSH) warmly welcomes the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’ presented by the European Commission today and emphasizes the importance of a strong European economy and enhanced competitiveness. The association considers the Omnibus Package, which was … Continue reading