ESFPA E-News

EUDR Delayed

On Thursday November 14^th, the European Parliament voted to delay the implementation and to introduce a new "no risk" category for countries with minimal deforestation risk. We anticipate that the U.S. will eventually be included in this category.

From here, the proposal moves into trilogue negotiations, which occur between Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission.  They are moving quickly to finalize and adopt the regulation before the end of the year.

A couple of highlights provided from the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO):

Approved Amendments

12-month delay:

• Large operators and traders would need to comply with the regulation’s requirements by December 30, 2025. 
• Micro and small enterprises would have until June 30, 2026.

Addition of the 4^th “no-risk" category:

• Countries classified as “no risk,” where forest areas are stable or growing, would be subject to lighter compliance requirements due to the minimal or absent risk of deforestation.
• The Commission is expected to complete a system for rating countries by risk level by June 30, 2025.
• If finalized, NAFO anticipates that the US to be designated as a “no risk” country, but that remains to be confirmed. 

What’s Next

• Acumen has confirmed that trilogue negotiations will begin with the European Council as early as this week.  They are aiming to target to finalize and adopt the Regulation by the end of the year.
• NAFO will be in Brussels in early December, which is excellent timing.  We will have an opportunity to engage with policymakers during the trilogues to voice our support. 

Final Sign-On Letter on the Advanced Clean Truck Rules

Last week, a finalized letter was emailed to the Governor expressing concerns and requesting a delay in New York’s implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus (HDO) rules. This letter highlights that enforcing this legislation would harm New York’s trucking industry, truck dealers, and consumers, as well as potentially delaying progress toward the state’s emission reduction goals.

The letter was signed by over 35 organizations including the Trucking Association of New York and ESFPA. We would like to thank everyone who joined our advocacy campaign in helping to support the delay of these rules. 

Click the link below to read the full sign-on letter:

DEC Urges Safety as Regular Firearm Hunting Season Starts in New York

As the regular firearm hunting season begins in New York, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has a warning for hunters.

The state’s most popular big game season, which includes deer and bear hunting, begins on Saturday, November 16 and runs through December 8. The start of the season comes as the DEC is responding to an isolated detection of Chronic Wasting Disease. The disease affects the brain and nervous system of deer, elk, and moose, and is always fatal.

The isolated case was found in a captive deer facility in Herkimer County and there are no known cases in the wild at this time. If introduced to wild deer, the disease can spread wildly and be devastating to deer populations.

The DEC is asking hunters to take a few precautions:

Hunting in New York

• Avoid using deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain CWD. The DEC recommends hunters use synthetic products instead.
• Dispose of deer carcass waste in a landfill, not on the landscape.

Hunting Outside of New York

• If you harvest any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou while hunting outside of New York, the DEC advises you to debone the venison before returning to New York. The DEC will confiscate any illegally imported deer carcasses and parts.
• If you harvest a deer from an area outside of New York known to have Chronic Wasting Disease, submit samples to that state’s Department of Natural Resources for testing before consuming the venison. If the test is positive for CWD, contact New York’s DEC for proper disposal of the venison.

More than 470,000 thousand hunters are expected to participate in this year’s regular firearm hunting season across the state, with roughly 60% of the state’s deer harvest taking place during the season. The DEC encourages all hunters to take steps to remain safe while hunting, including proper firearms safety and using caution when entering and exiting tree stands.

Wildfire Updates

The wildfire threat across the Tri-State has been increasing, and Governor Hochul announced last week a statewide burn ban to go into effect beginning November 13th.

New York issued a voluntary evacuation order over the weekend for some residents near the border with New Jersey as the Jennings Creek wildfire, fanned by gusty winds, pushed past a containment line. Residents in roughly 165 homes in two communities around Warwick, N.Y., were asked to evacuate Saturday night, officials said. The wildfire has burned approximately 5,000 acres in both states since it began Nov. 8.

The National Weather Service’s New York office issued a special weather statement Sunday warning of the elevated risks of fire spread because of the combination of prolonged dry weather and gusty wind.