The European Union is introducing a regulation on deforestation-free products as part of the European Green Deal, to step up EU action to protect and restore the world’s forests. Deforestation is not only destroying habitats, but it is also driving global warming. Once adopted and applied, the new law will ensure that a set of key goods placed on the EU market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world.

Originally only six commodities—cattle, wood, palm oil, soya, coffee, and cocoa—and some of their derivative products—for example leather, chocolate, or furniture—were included in the scope. The original proposal made in 2021 left a loophole for printed products, one of the few wood-based products not already regulated, as imported paper, for example, was already covered by the EU Timber Regulation.

Intergraf, the European representation of the national print associations, has called for printed products to be included in the scope of this legislation for over a decade and finally succeeded in having print added.