New mandatory rules will require British businesses to verify that everyday goods — from chocolate to cooking oil — are not sourced from illegally cleared forests.
The UK government announced on Tuesday, 23 June, during London Climate Action Week, that it would introduce new regulations requiring businesses trading in rainforest-linked commodities to demonstrate their supply chains are free from illegal deforestation. The announcement marks a significant shift from voluntary industry commitments toward enforceable legal obligations across Great Britain.
What the New Rules Cover
Under the proposed framework, UK businesses that import or trade in commodities such as soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and timber will be required to conduct mandatory due diligence. They must verify that the goods they source have not contributed to the illegal clearing of forests or other natural land.
These commodities are embedded in thousands of everyday supermarket products. Chocolate, shampoo, cosmetics, and cooking oils are among the most common examples. British consumers, the government argues, currently have no reliable way of knowing whether their purchases are linked to forest destruction abroad.
The new measures draw on existing powers under the Environment Act and propose strengthening the UK Timber Regulation to close gaps in current oversight.
The Scale of the Problem
The numbers behind the policy are stark. They demand urgent attention.
In 2023 alone, the UK’s consumption of internationally traded agricultural commodities was linked to approximately 29,000 hectares of deforestation globally — an area roughly equivalent to one and a half times the size of Manchester. Associated carbon emissions from that deforestation totalled an estimated 9.4 million tonnes.
Globally, agricultural expansion accounts for around 90 per cent of all deforestation. Much of that expansion is directly tied to the production of the same commodities the UK imports in large volumes each year.
Rainforests are irreplaceable. They store vast quantities of carbon. They sustain biodiversity found nowhere else on Earth. Their continued loss poses risks that extend well beyond environmental concern — the UK government has previously described tropical forest collapse as a national security issue.
Government and Industry Response
Nature Minister Mary Creagh stated that eliminating products linked to illegal deforestation would protect precious ecosystems while strengthening the UK’s long-term economic resilience. She described the move as leading by example — scrutinising domestic supply chains rather than simply commenting on deforestation abroad.
The British Retail Consortium welcomed the announcement. Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the BRC, confirmed that retailers had long advocated for UK deforestation regulation as a necessary step toward forest conservation across retail supply chains. He also called for alignment with EU requirements wherever possible, to reduce administrative costs and complexity for businesses and consumers alike.
Conservation organisation WWF urged the government not to delay further. Gavin Crowden, Director of Advocacy at WWF, noted that new rules are already due to take effect in Northern Ireland at the end of 2026. He argued there was no justification for leaving consumers elsewhere in the UK without equivalent protections.
Northern Ireland and the EU Link
Northern Ireland holds a unique position. It retains dual market access. The EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) will apply there in phases from 30 December 2026, in accordance with the Windsor Framework.
To protect the integrity of the UK Internal Market, the forthcoming consultation will propose that the Great Britain regime covers the same core commodities and information requirements as the Northern Ireland regulation. Businesses operating in Northern Ireland are encouraged to begin compliance preparations immediately.
What Comes Next
The government will launch a formal consultation later in 2026, engaging businesses, civil society groups, and international partners on the precise design of the Great Britain deforestation policy. Further details on the consultation timeline will be confirmed in due course.
The longer-term ambition extends beyond tackling illegality. The government has indicated it intends to transition eventually toward a fully deforestation-free standard — one that goes further by requiring products to be sourced free from any deforestation, not merely illegal clearing.
The measures form part of the UK’s commitments under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, agreed at COP26, which pledged to halt and reverse global forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
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