British picnics at risk from EU net zero rules

Telegraph

10-05-2025

The Great British picnic is under threat from EU net zero rules that risk shortages of treats such as mini sausage rolls and 'picky bits'.
Logistics experts have warned that complex global supply chains could be disrupted by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
European businesses exporting to Britain could be forced to shun some of their suppliers out of fear of potentially huge fines and even prison sentences for breaking the new law.
That could mean that UK supermarket shelves devoted to 'British tapas' could be left temporarily bare by the time the Glyndebourne festival rolls around next summer.
'Favourite picnic items like meat, dairy, and certain snacks will be impacted by the new EU laws, especially those made from commodities like soy, palm oil, and beef,' Alex Walters, from supply chain experts Authenticate, told the Telegraph
'Soy, a major contributor to deforestation, is also a common component of animal feed affecting the availability of tasty treats from charcuterie to the humble sausage roll.'
'Additionally, the packaging and materials used for the picnic itself can also contribute to deforestation, especially if they are made from wood or paper,' he said.
The EUDR is meant to ensure that certain products are not sourced from deforested land outside of the EU, which is Britain's largest trading partner.
It demands strict reporting requirements to ensure supply chains are free of deforestation and is expected to come into full force at the end of the year.
The biggest companies, including British firms active in the EU, can face fines of up to 4 per cent of EU turnover and criminal penalties such as two-year jail sentences for failing to carry out due diligence.
It replaces the older and much narrower EU Timber Regulation with new rules covering cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, and soya and derived products such as beef, furniture, and chocolate.
The UK signed up for the EU Timber Regulation during its membership of the EU and has not updated its deforestation rules since Brexit. But it could fall victim to unintended consequences of the green rules from Brussels.
Mr Walters said, 'The complexities of global supply chains for many goods makes monitoring the origin and means of manufacture of all ingredients extremely challenging.
'Without greater clarity and support for suppliers, many of whom operate in complex, opaque regions globally, the EUDR could lead to critical ingredients disappearing from the food supply chain including some of our Great British picnic favourites.'
Farmers' protests
The EUDR was due to come into force at the end of last year but it was delayed by Brussels amid a broader backlash against burdensome green regulations that sparked farmers' protests in Europe.
Nichola Mallon, head of trade and devolved policy at Logistics UK, said: 'The year long delay to the introduction of EUDR is welcome but significant concerns remain given how extensive it is, the new reporting processes that are required and the complexity of supply chains'.
Mr Walters said many UK businesses risked huge fines by not being fully prepared for the new laws, which come into effect on Dec 30.
'That's why it's so important for companies to put systems in place to map high-risk deforestation commodities now ahead of the end-of-year deadline,' he said.