A decisive time for the leather industry
The next few weeks will determine whether hides, skins and leather remain in Annex I of the EUDR — and continue to be unfairly treated as drivers of deforestation — or are finally recognised for what they are: by-products of the food chain, not a cause of deforestation.
In this context, the global leather industry — from the USA to Australia, Africa, and New Zealand — has united under the International Council of Tanners, with the support of the International Meat Secretariat (IMS) and the International Union of hides, skins and leather Trade Associations (ICHSLTA), to address a joint letter to Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission.
👉 The call is clear: remove HS Chapter 41 products (hides, skins and leather) from Annex I. This is a low hanging fruit for a meaningful EUDR simplification and a chance for the European Commission to ensure regulations remain fair, proportionate and grounded in scientific evidence.
“This is a decisive moment for our industry. There is a clear window of opportunity to ensure that hides and leather are excluded from the EUDR — and we may not have another chance. The facts are on our side: leather is not a driver of deforestation. What is at stake is not only fairness, but the livelihood of many smallholders in extra-EU supply chains. The global leather community must stand united to ensure that science prevails.”
— Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, Secretary General, COTANCE