Australia: New National Recovery Plan for Macadamia Species
On October 13, 2023, the Australian Government published a new National Recovery Plan for Macadamia Species. The aim of the plan is to ensure the long-term viability of four macadamia species endemic to Australia —Macadamia integrifolia, Macadamia jansenii, Macadamia ternifolia and Macadamia tetraphylla— through maintaining existing populations and implementing measures to promote recovery.
The plan identifies the key threats facing Australia’s wild macadamia population —habitat loss and fragmentation, small population size, weed species, fire, unmanaged livestock, climate change, genetic pollution, public perception, uncontrolled conservation, Phytophthora and other diseases, and feral pigs— and sets out a plan of action to achieve five specific objectives:
- Continue to identify and evaluate the extent and quality of macadamia species populations and their habitat.
- Reduce and manage the major threatening processes affecting macadamia species and their habitat.
- Increase knowledge of macadamia species and their ecology to affect their conservation and management.
- Improve awareness and understanding of macadamia species, especially the management requirements of these species and their major threats.
- Manage, monitor and evaluate the National Recovery Plan for Macadamia Species
EU: Parliamentary Committees Adopt Forced Labor Regulation Report
On October 16, 2023, the European Parliament’s International Trade and Internal Market committees adopted a report on the proposal for a regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labor on the EU market. The draft regulation would put in place a framework to investigate the use of forced labor in companies’ supply chains. If it is proven that a company has used forced labor, all import and export of related goods would be halted at the EU’s borders and companies would also have to withdraw goods that have already reached the EU market. As for next steps, the plenary will now have to confirm this as the Parliament’s negotiating mandate. Once the Council has adopted its position, talks on the final shape of the regulation can begin.
EU: Call for Feedback on Directive on Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain
The European Commission is conducting an evaluation of the degree to which the Directive on Unfair Trading Practices in the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain, adopted in 2019, has achieved its objective of better protecting farmers and small and medium-sized suppliers working in the supply chain. The call for feedback will be open until November 29, 2023.
EU: Parliament Votes Down Motion to Reject Sustainability Reporting Standards
As reported by FRUCOM, on October 18, 2023, a plenary session of the European Parliament voted down a motion to reject the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The proposed ESRS regulation, which would set the standards for companies to use in carrying out their reporting under the framework of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, was transmitted in August to the European Parliament and to the Council for scrutiny. The scrutiny period runs for two months and is extendable by another two months. The European Parliament or the Council may reject the delegated act, but they may not amend it.