Post: EU Extends Deadline for Coffee Farmers to Meet Deforestation Compliance Standards.

Nairobi: The European Union (EU) has committed to supporting local coffee farmers in meeting the requirements of newly enforced deforestation regulations. The European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which came into effect on June 29, 2023, aims to prevent products sold within the EU from contributing to deforestation or forest degradation.According to Kenya News Agency, Filipo Amato, the First Counsellor and Head of Trade section at the EU, revealed that the European Commission has requested an extension from the European Parliament to allow coffee producers additional time to comply with these regulations. This proposal, if approved, would postpone the full applicability of the regulation from December 30, 2024, to December 30, 2025, for large companies, and from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026, for micro- and small enterprises.During a breakfast meeting organized by Fairtrade and the Kenya Coffee Platform (KCP), Amato explained that the extension is in response to requests from partner countri es and coffee producers, who require more time to meet the stringent compliance requirements. The EU is also developing programs to build capacity and support farmers in adhering to the EUDR, in conjunction with the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).The Kenyan government is actively mapping farmers through the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAMIS) to ensure coffee is not sourced from deforested areas. Parliamentary coffee caucus chairman Duncan Mathenge emphasized the collaborative efforts between the legislature and other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive roadmap for compliance.Felix Mutwiri of the AFA Coffee Directorate highlighted the government's progress, with an inter-ministerial committee already established to oversee compliance efforts. Despite the potential extension, stakeholders are working diligently to meet the current deadlines, covering 22% of coffee-producing counties.Karugu Macharia, Chairman of the Kenya Coffee Platform (KCP), commended the collective efforts to assist farmers in adopting these regulations. He noted that strategies such as enhancing soil tests and extending farm input subsidies are being fast-tracked to boost production, which has significantly declined since the late 1980s.