Gia Lai (VNA) – Experts gathered in the CentralHighlands province of Gia Lai on April 9 to seek measures to help local coffeebusinesses to adapt to the EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) and promoteexports to the EU market in particular and the world in general.

Under the EUDR, the European Commission (EC) willban the import of agricultural products whose production process originates onland that resulted from deforestation after December 31, 2020, includinglivestock farming, cocoa, coffee, rubber and wood products.

The deadline to implement the EUDR for large-scalefirms is December 2024, and for small and medium-sized enterprises is June 2025.

According to experts, the application of EUDR willpose many challenges to small and medium-sized enterprises in Gia Lai whereexport value from coffee accounted for nearly 71% of the total export revenuein 2023.

Currently, Gia Lai has about 37,538 hectares ofcoffee meeting VietGAP, 4C, Rainforest Alliance and Organic standards. Localcoffee products are sold in many choosy markets such as the US, the EU andJapan.

According to Vice Director of the provincialDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development Doan Ngoc Co said that GiaLai’s agricultural products will face many challenges in satisfying EUDRstandards, especially in proving that the “relevant goods” or “relevantproducts” do not cause deforestation according to EUDR requirements.

When "relevant goods" or "relevantproducts" cannot be imported into the EU market, agricultural products ofVietnam in general and Gia Lai province in particular are likely to have theirprices squeezed when they are exported to other markets with fewer compliancerequirements, he explained.

According to the official, the majority of localresidents in Gia Lai reside in far-flung areas and live in the forests withnomadic farming habits, which makes it difficult for the province in managementactivities and poses difficulties for the local coffee industry.

Dr. Nguyen Trong Cuong from the Department ofForestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed somesolutions for the coffee industry of the country and Gia Lai to adapt to theEUDR, including establishing forest database for the EU's use, and formingforest boundaries and forest developments to serve as a basis for industries toprove that products meet the requirements in anti-deforestation and producttraceability.

At the same time, it is necessary to developforest maps and data, production area maps according to the timeline prescribedby the EUDR, he said, advising the coffee industry to set up a producttraceability system from farms to local agents./.