“Supermarkets ‘in limbo’ over Government action on deforestation in supply chains”

Several British supermarkets say they are in “limbo” as they wait for Government progress on tackling illegal deforestation in supply chains.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Lidl are among those calling on ministers to enact promised due diligence laws…

Under the proposals, businesses will be prohibited from using or selling goods containing palm oil, cocoa, beef, leather and soy linked to illegal deforestation under the 2021 Environment Act.

But ministers are yet to publish the legislation or set a date for the rules to come into force.

In an open letter to the Government, retailers warned that deforestation presents an increasing risk to supply chain stability as well as food security.

The supermarkets said the UK could suffer millions in export losses to the European Union if Government inaction leaves businesses unprepared to comply with the bloc’s own deforestation legislation, which is due to come into force at the end of this year.

They also said deforestation rules will help support food security and mitigate the impacts of climate change on their supply chains.

The supermarkets, which also include Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose, Aldi, the Co-op, M&S and Ocado, called on ministers to urgently adopt secondary legislation that aligns with the EU rules as much as possible…