Australia Concerned EU ‘Deforestation’ Rules Could Impact Cattle Trade

The Australian Senate has passed a motion calling on the European Union to delay implementation of a law which it claims is flawed and could cut exports.

Two farmers feed their cattle in western New South Wales, Australia, on Sept. 28, 2018. Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

The Senate has called on the European Union (EU) to delay the implementation of new regulations that could drastically reduce Australia’s exports to the trading bloc, saying it has made a fundamental error about the country’s agricultural land.

Under the European Union Deforestation Regulation, due to come into effect in December, the 27 EU member countries will reject a range of agricultural products produced on land subject to “deforestation or forest degradation” from Dec. 31, 2020.