The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

The UK government has unveiled plans to strengthen regulations aimed at preventing products linked to illegal deforestation from entering British supply chains.

Announced during London Climate Action Week, the proposals would require businesses trading in key forest-risk commodities, including soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber, to conduct mandatory checks to ensure their supply chains are not contributing to illegal deforestation.

The measures are expected to be implemented in Great Britain through powers under the Environment Act alongside reforms to strengthen the UK Timber Regulation. A formal consultation with businesses, civil society groups and international partners is due to launch later this year.

The proposed rules target commodities that are widely used throughout the food and beverage industry, including ingredients found in products such as chocolate, confectionery, baked goods, cooking oils, beverages and processed foods.

The government said the move is intended to improve transparency and traceability across supply chains while helping consumers avoid purchasing products linked to rainforest destruction.

According to official figures, approximately 90% of global deforestation is driven by agricultural expansion. In 2023, UK consumption of forest-risk commodities was associated with around 29,000 hectares of deforestation worldwide, equivalent to roughly one and a half times the size of Manchester, and generated an estimated 9.4 million tonnes of related carbon emissions.

Nature minister Mary Creagh said: “Tackling global deforestation is one of the most effective ways we can address climate change and protect some of the world’s most unique and precious wildlife. That is why we are leading by example and scrutinising our own supply chains. Eliminating products linked to illegal deforestation not only helps to protect precious ecosystems but is good for our collective resilience and long-term prosperity.”

The announcement has been broadly welcomed by the retail sector, which has increasingly called for mandatory standards to complement existing voluntary commitments.

Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers welcome today’s announcement. We have long called for UK deforestation regulation as an important step in driving forest conservation across retail supply chains in line with business commitments, while supporting alignment with the EU where possible to avoid unnecessary costs and complexity for retailers and their customers.”

However, he cautioned that implementation must be managed carefully, particularly as new EU requirements begin to take effect in Northern Ireland later this year.

A key aspect of the government's approach will be maintaining consistency with the EU's deforestation legislation.

Under current plans, the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) will be introduced in Northern Ireland in phases beginning on 30 December 2026. To minimise complexity for businesses operating across the UK, the government intends to align Great Britain's regime with the same core commodities and information requirements covered by the EUDR.

Officials said this would help protect the UK Internal Market, reduce administrative duplication and support British exporters supplying European customers.

For food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers already preparing for EU compliance, the alignment could provide a more streamlined framework for data collection, traceability and risk assessment.

Environmental groups have welcomed the government's commitment while urging swift implementation.

Gavin Crowden, director of advocacy at the WWF, argued that delaying action would leave UK consumers unknowingly contributing to rainforest destruction through everyday purchases.

Looking ahead, the government said its long-term ambition is to move beyond tackling illegal deforestation and towards a fully deforestation-free standard for relevant commodities and products.

Such a shift would represent a significant step change for global agricultural supply chains, requiring businesses to demonstrate that products are free from any form of deforestation regardless of local legality.

For food and beverage companies, the proposed regulations signal growing expectations around supply chain accountability, particularly for products containing palm oil, cocoa and soy-derived ingredients.

Businesses may need to strengthen supplier verification processes, improve traceability systems and invest in more robust sourcing data to meet future compliance requirements.

The proposals also reinforce a broader trend toward greater environmental transparency in food production, as governments, retailers and consumers increasingly scrutinise the sustainability credentials of products from farm to shelf.