With the objective of promoting technical exchange on the implementation of the European regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) in the Mercosur countries, AL-INVEST Verde organised the workshop "Environmental traceability systems" in Montevideo (Uruguay), with the support of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) of Uruguay and the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI).
The workshop was opened by Claudia RomanoCooperation Manager of the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI); Markus HandkeHead of Cooperation of the European Union in Uruguay; Juan Ignacio BuffaUndersecretary of MGAP, and Lorenzo NalinAL-INVEST Verde's technical specialist.
During her speech, Claudia Romano stressed that in order to comply with the EUDR "political commitment accompanied by technical work is necessary", which is why she valued the workshop positively since, she said, "new initiatives emerge from the dialogue between all sectors".
For his part, Markus Handke underlined the importance of sustainability and pointed out that "avoiding negative external effects is a global trend".. He framed the importance of the EUDR in this context and expressed the EU's commitment to "support actors to make the journey towards compliance".
In this regard, Juan Ignacio Buffa said that "the MGAP is strongly committed" to compliance with the EUDR, which is why he believes that initiatives such as this workshop "allow further progress in the understanding of European regulations", in reference to the EUDR.
Following these interventions, Lorenzo Nalin detailed the work of AL-INVEST Verde to promote actions that foster sustainability, through the organisation of technical dialogues, technical assistance projects and other support for concrete actions, and valued the traceability systems developed in Mercosur countries and which were presented during the workshop.
Specifically, Carlos FaroppaUruguay's Director General of Forestry (MGAP), presented the National Platform for Deforestation-Free Value Chains (Plataforma Nacional de cadenas de valor libres de deforestación); Bruno Meireles LeiteThe Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA), the platform Agro Brasil + Sustentável; Felipe NunesDirector of the Territorial Intelligence Centre (CIT) and researcher at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), and Cesar Teixeira DonatoThe coordinator of the Rural Environmental Cadastre (CAR) of the State Institute of Forests (IEF) in Minas Gerais, presented Selo Verde Minas Gerais; Gustavo Idigoraspresident of the Chamber of the Oil Industry and Grain Exporters Centre (CIARA-CEC), the VISEC Argentina platform; and Andrés GinésThe RETSA system was launched by the coordinator of the Socio-environmental Traceability Executing Unit of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIC).
Traceability in beef
The workshop continued with a presentation by Helena Leonel FerreiraETIFOR's supply chain specialist, who detailed what is new in the EUDR Regulation, which products are affected, which requirements must be met, which actors are involved, the implementation deadlines and the due diligence process, among other aspects.
Also, during the workshop, the study ".Beef traceability systems in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay"which assesses existing traceability initiatives in the region. The author of the study, Pierre GautreauProfessor at the University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and author of the study, explained.
The objective of the report is to provide input to the institutions of Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay in view of the adoption of the EUDR, which requires, in order to access the European market, that the countries supplying raw materials have traceability systems to know the pathway of the products in the territories and the environmental description systemsin particular, deforestation monitoring systems.
About AL-INVEST Verde
AL-INVEST Verde is a programme funded by the European Union (EU). Its 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.
