The UK Government announced on 25th June 2026 plans to implement new deforestation due diligence, supply chain transparency and sustainable sourcing requirements for businesses that import commodities that are associated with forest. The proposed regulations will aim to ensure that companies are able to identify if their supply chain is linked to deforestation and that products making it onto the UK market come with a higher level of traceability.

The rules proposed to allow for the deforestation regulation, which the European Union (EU) recently published, would mirror key commodities and information norms from that EU law, the government said. It is designed to standardize data and ensure traceability, and minimize administrative duplication of effort for companies serving customers in various markets.

The new rules will be aimed at high-risk commodities.

The framework will mandate checks at companies' supply chains for commodities linked to rainforest destruction, such as soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber. Businesses will have to determine if production of these commodities is linked to illegal deforestation or land clearance operations.

The measures will help businesses to fully appreciate the environmental risks associated with imported products and make efforts to minimise the risk of obtaining goods linked to deforestation.

UK Consumption Linked to Global Deforestation Impact

This follows a series of announcements as the UK's imports of internationally traded commodities remain associated with global environmental impacts. UK consumption is estimated to contribute around 29,000 ha of deforestation per year globally and around 9.4 million tonnes of deforestation-related carbon emissions.

Companies, such as large retailers and supermarkets, have already demanded more stringent regulations to tackle deforestation dangers in global supply chains. The proposed rules are likely to establish a more formalized system for businesses to track their environmental footprint from their sourcing activities.

There are discussions ongoing with regards to Policy Details Planned.

Later this year the UK Government will take a consultation process, involving businesses, civil society organisations and international partners, to finalise the detail of the deforestation policy. The consultation will also cover the process of complying with mandatory due diligence obligations and what the companies will be required to be collecting and reporting on their supply chain information.

The proposed requirements will be introduced using existing legislation, such as UK Environment Act provisions, and additional powers to bring about enhancements to the UK Timber Regulation. The way forward will help in better identification of deforestation risks of imports, the government said.

Take steps to produce deforestation-free supply chains.

The government's ultimate target is to achieve a deforestation-free standard, where possible, products entering the UK market will be deforestation-free. It is hoped that the policy will drive more transparency and responsibility upon companies to ensure the traceability of key commodities in international supply chains.

The mandatory checks would bring the UK closer to international efforts to reduce deforestation and its climate effects. Due to the importance of forests in carbon storage and ecosystem protection, forest protection is an important objective in climate and biodiversity policies.

The government highlighted the issue of climate and biodiversity.

Deforestation across the world is part of the solution to climate change and ecosystem protection, said UK Nature Minister Mary Creagh. She stated that loss of forests would have an impact on conservation of wildlife and overall environmental protection.

The consultation, which is currently underway by the government, will decide what will happen to the new requirements and how they are put into practice, such as the reporting process, what businesses are expected to do to be compliant, and when the regulations will be implemented. The final framework will have a significant impact on the way companies tackle deforestation risks in their global supply chains.