Montevideo, 11 April 2024. The Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay (MGAP), through the Directorate General of Forestry, has sent the first shipment of deforestation-free wood chips to Portugal. This pilot experience has been carried out in the framework of the collaboration with AL-INVEST Verde and the support of the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI).
Since 2023, AL-INVEST green has been cooperating with Uruguay to advise the Directorate General of Forestry on the implementation of a public system that ensures the sustainable management of native forests country. Within the framework of this partnership, through the IDAF (Centro de Investigaciones Aplicadas al Desarrollo Agroforestal), is working towards compliance with the European regulation on deforestation and forest degradation free products (EUDR).
The shipment from Uruguay to Europe complies with all the requirements established by the new European regulation, which will come into force on 31 December 2024 to ensure that products destined for or leaving the EU come from deforestation-free areas. Specifically, the EUDR affects seven chains: timber, palm oil, beef, coffee, cocoa, cocoa, rubber and soya, as well as their derivatives.
"The implementation of the EUDR implies the need for full traceability of products, from the initial production stage to their arrival in the container or final shipment", reminds MGAP. To this end, the pilot experience has been carried out in collaboration with Maderas del Uruguay (MADELUR). "These efforts have resulted in the preparation of a shipment of chips to Portugal that complies with all the requirements established by the new regulation", the Ministry adds.
In particular, in order to successfully complete this action, a process of georeferencing and geolocation of the forestry establishments and plots where the timber was obtained, together with an assessment to determine that there has been no deforestation since 2020. to the present day.
"Once confirmed, the corresponding conformity was granted. In addition, a review of the information was carried out by external consultants to ensure compliance with the regulations, which culminated in the issuance of the certificate by the MGAP, in compliance with the new EU regulations," the MGAP said.
About AL-INVEST Verde
AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union (EU) programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 2, led by FIIAPP in consortium with IILA, the programme provides assistance for strengthening public policy and multi-stakeholder dialogues on sustainable agricultural and value chains, environmental and labour standards, as well as sustainable trade and economic policy and regulatory frameworks.
