Working to have leather excluded from the Annex I of the EUDR is the stated goal of national and international tanning associations such as UNIC and Cotance. Now the entire supply chain can do its part to achieve the goal: up until May 13, the European Commission is holding public consultation on the proposed amendment to the document that lists the commodities subject to the burdens of the Anti-Deforestation Regulation. Cowhides (at all stages of processing) are still part of it, but there are good reasons to ask for them no longer be included.
Wishing for a happy ending
Those who follow our chronicles know it: the EUDR has been creating major headaches (to put it mildly) for the international leather supply chain ever since it was first discussed in 2021. And the postponement to 2026 of the implementation of the Anti-Deforestation Regulation has been a breath of fresh air, but certainly not the solution to the problem. Leather has good reason to ask to be excluded from a regulation that is agreeable in objective, but not in its methods.
As research from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa shows, leather is not a driver of deforestation and environmental degradation. Even just for the simple reason that it’s not a driver of livestock farms, but on the contrary, a by-product. Therefore, in light of the relatively low volumes of meat imports into the European market, the EUDR (as written) promises to be completely irrelevant to global animal husbandry practices, but to distort the leather market in a serious way.
Leather to be excluded from Annex I
Now the consultation launched by the European Commission is an opportunity not to be missed. Until May 13, both European and non-EU citizens, companies and organizations can submit their comments through this portal, after registering with the EU system. Everyone can choose to leverage the topic they consider most relevant (the relationship between the meat and leather supply chains, the general ineffectiveness of the regulation in the case of bovine hides, or end-market distortions, among others). The message to be delivered to Brussels is only one: “Exclude bovine hides (customs codes 4101, 4104, 4107) from Annex I of the EUDR“.
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