Forests: Regulation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her written statement of 23 June 2026 on The UK’s Approach to Deforestation Regulations, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed due diligence requirements on businesses with an annual turnover of over £1 million.
Answered by Mary Creagh
The Government recognises that the proposed due diligence requirements will impose costs on businesses that fall within scope of the regulations. Initial business engagement and research indicates that businesses in scope will incur both set-up and ongoing compliance costs, although these will depend on the final policy design and the extent to which businesses already undertake comparable due diligence activities.
We aim to ensure the proposed policy in Great Britain is proportionate and operates alongside the EUDR, supporting due diligence practices that are as consistent as possible for businesses operating across the UK Internal Market and the EU Single Market. The Government will consult on the proposals and will consider responses when developing the final legislation. A full Impact Assessment will be developed in line with the Better Regulation Framework to assess costs, benefits and wider impacts.
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