ICMSA warns that draft EU deforestation legislation intended for South America & Asia could ‘open door’ to unprecedented restrictions on Irish Farmers

The Deputy President of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, has expressed serious concern regarding the Draft General Scheme of the EU Deforestation and Forest Degradation Bill and is calling on Government and Oireachtas members to ensure that provisions potentially extending the legislation beyond forests are removed before the legislation progresses.

Mr. Carroll said that while Irish farmers fully support efforts to tackle global deforestation, it would be entirely unacceptable if legislation designed to address tropical deforestation was used as a basis for imposing further new restrictions on Irish grassland farming. He said that the EU Deforestation Regulation was introduced to address the destruction of forests in parts of South America, Asia and Africa and was never intended to place additional restrictions on Irish family farms operating on permanent grassland systems that are among the most environmentally sustainable food production systems in the world.

The ICMSA Deputy President said the association is particularly concerned by provisions within the draft scheme which appear to provide for the future extension of controls beyond forests and woodland to other land categories through ministerial regulation.

“Farmers are rightly asking a simple question: if this legislation is about deforestation, why are provisions being included that could facilitate future controls on grassland and other agricultural land?”

He warned that such powers could create significant uncertainty for farmers regarding normal agricultural activities, including land improvement works, re-seeding, drainage, farm development, and changes in land use. At a time when Irish farmers are already dealing with complex environmental regulations under CAP, nitrates, water quality measures and climate obligations, he observed that the last thing they need is another layer of legislative uncertainty hanging over their businesses.

“Irish agriculture bears no resemblance to the scenario or circumstances that have led to the introduction of the EU Deforestation Regulation. Our farming model is overwhelmingly based on managed grassland. Farmers are not clearing rainforests. They are producing high-quality food under some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world. Any suggestion that Irish grassland could become caught within legislation – even inadvertently – that is intended to combat global deforestation is deeply worrying”, warned Mr Carroll.

He concluded by urging all TDs and Senators to seek amendments that will explicitly exclude agricultural grassland from any future extension of the legislation.  “We need legal certainty that this legislation will remain focused on its stated objective of preventing global deforestation and forest degradation. It should not become a vehicle for introducing future restrictions on grassland farming through secondary legislation.”

Ends          30 October 2026

Eamon Carroll,
Deputy President, ICMSA

Or

Cathal MacCarthy,
ICMSA Press Office