UK supermarkets have called on the new Labour government to urgently introduce measures for commodities driving deforestation and to align with EU regulations.

This week, the Retail Soy Group (RSG), which is an independent group of food retailers working to make sustainable soy the market norm, sent a letter to secretary of state for environment food and rural affairs Steve Reed MP.

In the letter, the retailers, which include Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Ocado, Waitrose and Co-op, warn that “further inaction puts the UK at risk of becoming a dumping ground for deforestation-connected commodities,” with EU deforestation regulations due to come into force in less than six months.

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The letter said: “Last year, the European Union became the first region in the world to provide the legislative clarity through the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that businesses are legally responsible for exercising deforestation due diligence on their supply chains by 30 December 2024.

“Retailers have been supportive of this legislation and have continually called for pragmatic steps that can level the playing field to deliver on our shared ambition for a deforestation-free food system.”

While the previous government had pledged to deliver Forest Risk Commodities (UKFRC) legislation, this had not been met.

The RSG added: “While the UK’s legislation does not mirror the EU’s in its entirety, the continued delay and absence of the UKFRC is contributing to further market confusion and is hindering retailer efforts to deliver on our shared commitment to eliminate deforestation and land conversion.”

As a result, the group has set out five recommendations for the new government, which include to introduce and adopt the UKFRC legislation within the first hundred days in office, provide clarity on whether the legislation applies in Northern Ireland, promote frictionless trade, publish clear scenario-based guidance, and work with retailers.