The UK Government is proposing tougher rules for businesses using commodities linked to deforestation, in a move aimed at ensuring everyday products sold in Great Britain are not connected to illegal forest clearance overseas.
The proposed measures would require businesses handling certain high-risk commodities, including soy, palm oil, cattle products, cocoa, timber, coffee and rubber, to carry out checks on their supply chains. The aim is to establish where these products come from and ensure they have been produced in accordance with relevant local laws.
The proposals are part of the Government’s wider effort to reduce the environmental damage associated with goods consumed in the UK. They are being developed at a time when forests are under growing pressure from agricultural expansion, illegal land clearance and commercial activity.
The announcement was made on 11 November, as world leaders and senior politicians gathered for a Leaders’ Summit Event on Forests at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
Everyday products could face closer supply chain checks
Many products found in British supermarkets, shops and households contain ingredients or materials associated with deforestation. Palm oil, for example, is used in a wide range of food products, toiletries and cosmetics, while soy is commonly used in animal feed and other food-related supply chains.
Cocoa is an important ingredient in chocolate and other confectionery, while timber is used in furniture, construction materials and paper products. Cattle-related products, coffee and rubber are also included among the commodities the Government wants businesses to examine more closely.
The concern is that some of these commodities may come from land that has been illegally cleared or taken over for agricultural and commercial production. When products enter international markets without adequate checks, consumers may have little way of knowing whether their purchases are connected to the destruction of forests overseas.
The Government believes stronger due diligence requirements could make supply chains more transparent and encourage businesses to take greater responsibility for the environmental and legal origins of the materials they use.
UK consumption linked to 29,000 hectares of deforestation
The scale of the problem is reflected in figures published by the Government. In 2023, UK consumption of goods associated with deforestation was linked to an estimated 29,000 hectares of forest loss worldwide. That is roughly one and a half times the size of Manchester.
The same consumption was associated with approximately 9.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions, highlighting the environmental consequences of the products entering the UK market.
Forests play a major role in regulating the climate, supporting wildlife, protecting biodiversity and sustaining communities whose livelihoods depend on natural resources. Their destruction can also affect food production, water security and the ability of countries to respond to climate change.
The Government says many British businesses have already taken voluntary steps to reduce deforestation risks in their supply chains. However, campaigners and major retailers have called for a stronger regulatory framework that gives businesses clearer expectations and provides consumers with greater confidence about the products they buy.
What the proposed rules could mean for businesses
The consultation will examine how mandatory due diligence obligations could be introduced in Great Britain using existing legal powers, including those contained in the Environment Act 2021. It will also consider measures to strengthen the UK Timber Regulation.
Under the Government’s current policy outline, businesses in Great Britain with an annual turnover of more than £1 million that use specified forest-risk commodities and wood products are intended to fall within the proposed framework.
Businesses covered by the eventual rules would be expected to establish a due diligence system, report on their activities and retain evidence demonstrating that relevant products comply with the applicable laws in the countries where they were produced. This could involve collecting information about the geographical origin of products and assessing the risks associated with their production.
The consultation is intended to gather views on which businesses and products should be covered, what an effective due diligence system should involve, and how companies should identify, assess and reduce the risk of illegal deforestation. The Government is also seeking evidence about the potential costs and wider effects of the proposed regulations.
The requirements have not yet been finalised. Businesses should therefore distinguish between the proposals currently being consulted on and any legal obligations that may eventually be introduced.
Different arrangements for Great Britain and Northern Ireland
The Government also wants the proposed system in Great Britain to operate alongside the arrangements that will apply in Northern Ireland. This is intended to limit unnecessary administrative burdens, protect the UK internal market and support businesses involved in trade with international markets.
Northern Ireland has a different regulatory position because of its arrangements for access to both the UK Internal Market and the EU Single Market. The EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products, commonly known as the EUDR, is due to begin applying in Northern Ireland in phases from 30 December 2026.
Businesses operating in Northern Ireland, or placing relevant products on the Northern Ireland or EU markets, will need to prepare for the applicable requirements. The Government is encouraging affected businesses to review their supply chains and take steps towards compliance before the rules begin to apply.
For companies operating across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU, understanding how the different requirements interact will be particularly important. The Government says it wants the proposed arrangements to be consistent with relevant international frameworks and avoid unnecessary duplication.
Government wants to move towards deforestation-free supply chains
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle said protecting forests was essential to tackling climate change and preserving some of the world’s most valuable wildlife and natural habitats.
She also said British consumers wanted greater confidence that everyday goods were not contributing to illegal deforestation overseas. The Government’s stated ambition is to remove illegal deforestation from UK supply chains and demonstrate leadership in addressing the climate and nature crises.
The proposals also form part of the UK’s commitment, made alongside 144 other countries at COP26 in Glasgow, to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
In the longer term, the Government wants to move towards a deforestation-free standard. This would go beyond checking whether production complies with local laws and build on wider international efforts to remove forest loss from global supply chains.
The consultation on implementing due diligence regulations for timber and forest-risk commodities in Great Britain opened on 11 November 2026 and will close at 11.59pm on 17 January 2027. Businesses, environmental organisations and other interested parties are being invited to submit their views before the Government decides how the proposed framework should develop.
What this could mean for Nigerians in the UK and African businesses
The proposals have implications beyond environmental policy, particularly for Nigerians and other African communities involved in food retail, cosmetics, catering, manufacturing and international trade. Palm oil, cocoa, rubber, timber and other commodities covered by the proposals are important to several African economies, including Nigeria. Businesses importing these materials or using them in products sold in Britain may increasingly need to understand where their supplies originate and what evidence can demonstrate that they were legally produced.
For Nigerian-owned food businesses, beauty brands, wholesalers and importers, the direction of travel is worth watching. A business that imports palm oil-based ingredients, cocoa products, wooden goods or other relevant materials may need to ask suppliers more detailed questions about sourcing and documentation if the proposed requirements are introduced. Smaller businesses should not assume that every new obligation will automatically apply to them, particularly because the Government’s current outline sets a proposed turnover threshold, but understanding the supply chain could become increasingly important when dealing with larger retailers and distributors.
There is also a wider issue for Nigeria and other African countries that export agricultural commodities to international markets. Stronger traceability expectations could influence how producers, exporters and manufacturers document the origin of their products and demonstrate compliance with environmental and land-use laws. For businesses seeking to build or maintain access to the British market, reliable sourcing information could become an increasingly important part of commercial relationships.
At Chijos News, we will continue to follow how the proposed regulations develop and what they could mean for Nigerian entrepreneurs, African exporters and diaspora-owned businesses trading in the UK. The debate is not simply about what British consumers buy. It is also about whether the businesses and communities that produce the raw materials behind those products can adapt to changing trade expectations without being unfairly excluded from valuable markets.