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Coffee traders accelerate shipments before EU deforestation law, says ICO

Coffee importers have increased the rate of shipments recently, looking for to avoid problems after December when the European Union's Guideline on Deforestation Free Products (EUDR) participates in force, said the International Coffee Organization (ICO) on Wednesday.

ICO Executive Director Vanusia Nogueira stated coffee stocks at producing nations are falling as importers hurry to send the beans to countries in Europe, ahead of the new legislation that will deny entrance of agricultural products produced on deforested land.

Importers are speeding up deliveries because there are questions about the law that the Europeans didn't answer yet, stated Nogueira on the sidelines of the International Coffee Seminar 2024 in Santos, Brazil.

And who knows if we are going to have surprises? she said.

The European Union is the biggest market for coffee in the world, while the beans are produced in tropical nations.

Nogueira stated there is an expectation that the European Union would provide an exemption on compliance during a certain duration until producing nations and traders are prepared to work with the brand-new legislation, however that is not specific.

She said countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica are more prepared to work with the EUDR, which needs accreditation that the coffee was not produced in deforested land, while little farmers in African countries would face more difficulties.