Source: tapchicaosu.vn
ANRPC member countries are implementing a sustainability agenda
Rubber plantations are consistent with a common vision of sustainable development
At the same time, emphasizing the role of natural rubber (NR) as an essential raw material used to create many products and contributing to the economic, social and environmental well-being of all stakeholders, including farmers/smallholders, communities, and globally.
Natural rubber production for smallholders is closer to achieving the goals set by the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially the call for zero poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, responsible production and consumption, action for climate and life on land.
Rubber plantations, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), constitute a distinct form of forest, seamlessly integrating commercial and ecological aspects. These plantations contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and local livelihoods. Their integration into the landscape promotes responsible land use and supports rural economies, in line with a shared vision of sustainable development.
At the same time, ANRPC member countries are implementing a sustainability agenda and are in the process of developing comprehensive guidance related to sustainable natural rubber (SNR). In parallel with this effort, ANRPC is promoting collaborative partnerships with stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange and dissemination of best practices to advance SNR.
According to ANRPC, most small-scale rubber producers have had to endure low natural rubber prices for more than a decade, with most of the time natural rubber being traded below production cost, pests and diseases. crop damage, climate change…, and will now face a new potential challenge from the implementation of the EU Zero Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), as they will have to comply with a number of administrative procedures, such as due diligence and risk assessment mechanisms. ANRPC will continue to strengthen cooperation within its members with international stakeholders to ensure that both production costs and sustainability factors are integral to rubber trade.
ANRPC is concerned that the issuance of the EUDR has the potential to create unnecessary trade barriers
The enactment of EUDR affects smallholders
ANRPC is also deeply concerned that the enactment of the EUDR has the potential to create unnecessary barriers to trade, which could lead to catastrophic consequences for the disruption of NR global supply chains, in particular for small producers.
The organization also reiterated that trade policies must be consistent with the rules and regulations set out in the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. Trade policies should also promote an inclusive, equitable, transparent, non-discriminatory and mutually supportive approach to environmental policies, expanding their scope beyond cooperation between factories and operators. They should aim to benefit farmers, who are the fundamental stakeholders in the trade ecosystem.
ANRPC calls on the EU to take a deeper look at the role of the NR sector, its invaluable role in sustainable development and responsible regulation. By recognizing rubber as a forest plant, the EU can facilitate the development of regulations that ensure the continued availability of natural rubber while maintaining the balance of economic, social and environmental pillars of the SDGs, to address the entire concept of sustainability.
“We ask the EU to establish practical approaches and measures to ensure the participation of smallholders in supply chains in line with the spirit of “leaving no one behind” in the SDGs of the United Nations and minimize the risk of exclusion from smallholders in the EU. We are making a collective effort to call on the EU authorities to acknowledge and take into account the concerns of ANRPC member states, and look forward to a substantive, honest and constructive dialogue on EUDR issues. ANRPC member states will continue close cooperation among members and reaffirm their commitment to achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the statement said.
