Published: 26 August 2020  (Updated: 26 August 2020)

Input requested - Due Diligence on Forest Risk Commodities

 

In 2019, Defra established an independent taskforce, Global Resource Initiative to consider actions the UK could take to ‘make international supply chains greener and leave a lighter footprint on the global environment.’   In March 2020, the Initiative proposed that the UK Government should introduce a mandatory due diligence requirement.

This week, Defra have launched a consultation on a new law designed to prevent habitat conversion from forests and other important natural areas to agricultural land. The proposal is that larger businesses would undertake due-diligence to assess that the ‘forest risk’ commodities they use have been produced legally.

Of key concern to the cosmetics industry would be the use of palm and its derivatives, although the consultation also asks about other ‘forest risk commodities’ used.

The closing date for responses to this consultation is Monday 5 October 2020.

CTPA is seeking further information on the impact of such a proposal on members and will respond to this consultation on behalf of the industry.  However, as always, members are reminded that the number of responses to a consultation matters, so all member companies should consider their own response, even if every question is not answered.  It is important that individual company positions are clearly communicated in addition to that of a trade association.

Should members wish to contribute, please contact Christine Lawson by the close of business Monday 14 September 2020.

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