New EU regulation

“Bureaucratic madness of the EU!”

(Bild: Birbaumer Christof)

The so-called Brussels "deforestation regulation" endangers thousands of jobs in Styria alone. Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry Association sound the alarm.

The EU "Deforestation Regulation" (from December 30) is intended to stop global deforestation and, above all, the deforestation of tropical forests. "Well-intentioned, but very badly done," rants Styrian Chamber of Agriculture President Franz Titschenbacher. "This regulation is completely excessive and cannot be implemented for us with its impractical rules. The bureaucratic effort is disproportionate and brings no added value."

Fighting (from left): Paul Lang, Franz Titschenbacher, Simone Schmiedtbauer, Christian Schnedl, Franz Sinabell.

(Bild: ALEXANDER DANNER)

Paul Lang from the forest association has an example: A small forest owner sells a carpenter some tree trunks for furniture production. He must specify the exact location in the forest for each tree, including the scientific, Latin name of the tree species. Otherwise there are penalties. "That's the last straw," warns Lang. Simone Schmiedtbauer, State Councillor for Agriculture, is also calling for "urgent mitigation": "We are pioneers in sustainable forest management, have one of the most modern forestry laws in the world and our Styrian foresters have perfected the sustainable management of our forests. We urgently call on the EU to reduce bureaucracy."

This regulation is well-intentioned, but very badly done. It is completely excessive and cannot be implemented for us with its impractical rules.

LK-Präsident Franz Titschenbacher

70,000 Styrians are employed in the forestry industry, according to Wifo expert Franz Sinabell, who is concerned about the forestry and timber value chain. Christian Schnedl, Managing Director of Papier-Holz-Austria, warns: "The additional bureaucratic workload is unmanageable for our industrial companies. This hasty and bungled legislation needs to be repaired immediately." There is also a petition.