Photo: MICHAEL DANTAS / AFP/FileSource: AFPThe European Union reached an agreement Tuesday to ban the import of products including coffee, cocoa and soy in cases where they are deemed to contribute to deforestation. Illegal production has spurred massive deforestation in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mexico and Guatemala. The European Union is the second-biggest market for consumption of the targeted products after China. 'Historic'The environmental lobby group Greenpeace called the draft law, agreed between the European Parliament and EU member states, "a major breakthrough". Both the European Council -- representing the EU countries -- and the European Parliament now have to officially adopt the agreed law.

Source: Daily Nation December 06, 2022 09:38 UTC