EUDR Faces Backlash in Liberian Senate

By Lincoln G. Peters

Capitol Hill, Monrovia, May 27, 2026: The Liberian Senate abruptly ended its hearing Tuesday on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) after the Ministry of Agriculture publicly denounced the policy, calling it a modern form of colonialism imposed on Africa.

The EUDR mandates that companies verify their supply chains are free from deforestation, forest degradation, and violations of local laws.

Covering seven major commodities—cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy, and wood—the law aims to ensure products entering the EU market are sustainably sourced.

Implementation is set for December 30, 2026, but large corporations have until June 30, 2027, to comply. Failure to sign the agreement will bar Liberia from exporting these products to Europe.

Under the regulation, exporters must submit a Due Diligence Statement, proving goods are deforestation-free and produced on land untouched by deforestation since December 31, 2020. Compliance also requires proof that production complied with Liberia’s laws, as well as geolocation data and timestamps for the sources of raw materials.

Presenting the Ministry’s position, Deputy Minister for Planning and Development David K. Akoi argued the regulation would harm Liberian smallholder farmers, many of whom lack formal education. He asserted that any forestry management rules should originate from Liberian lawmakers and be tailored to support the nation’s development plan, warning that the EUDR could increase poverty and disenfranchise local farmers.

Akoi further criticized the regulation as undermining Liberia’s National Agriculture Development Plan and described it as an external imposition. “Frankly speaking, the EUDR seems to be a new colonial rule that you create in your country and then enforce on another sovereign nation,” he said. “I expected the EU to consult our legislature before imposing this on us.”

In contrast, Dan T. Saryee Sr., Director-General of the Liberia Agricultural Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), endorsed the regulation, noting its global applicability and the need for compliance to avoid trade losses. He revealed that Liberia has received $200,000 in support—but this is far short of the resources needed to prepare 350,000 farmers for EUDR requirements.

“Our farmers—who make up 70% of our population—risk unemployment if we do not comply with these rules by December 31st,” Saryee warned. He urged lawmakers to seriously consider the regulation’s impact, emphasizing its implications for both local livelihoods and national exports.

An EU representative defended the EUDR, describing Liberia as a “guardian of the Guinean forest ecosystem” and stressing the global importance of preserving this natural resource. The official clarified that the regulation is not a trade barrier but an environmental safeguard to ensure that products consumed in Europe do not fuel deforestation or contribute to climate change. The EU has pledged $63 million in budget support to aid Liberia’s compliance and is considering extending this assistance beyond 2028.

Amid the heated exchanges, the Senate suspended public debate and moved the issue to committee for further deliberation.