Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Deferred
Paragraph: 26
Promote international and domestic data disclosure to improve monitoring of forest risks globally.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government use its influence in all relevant forums to promote international data disclosure (and domestic disclosure of UK customs and industrial data) so as to improve the monitoring of forest risks in the UK and globally.
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on existing and reviewed Government Buying Standards for food and catering, including current requirements for palm oil and coffee, and future consideration of forest-risk commodities within these procurement standards, rather than addressing the recommendation to promote broader international and domestic data disclosure.
Paragraph Reference:
26
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
to a healthier, more sustainable food system. The current Government Buying Standard for Food and Catering services includes mandatory requirements for all palm oil to be sustainably produced and that at least 50% of coffee is fairly traded. It also sets a best practice standard that all coffee and cocoa is certified as fairly traded. The Government is currently undergoing a wide-scale review of the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering services and consulted on possible changes to public sector food and catering policy in the summer of 2022, including whether palm oil, soy, cocoa, and coffee should be demonstrably legal and sustainable. We are considering the outcomes of this consultation and how they can be best taken forward. Under the timber procurement policy, all timber products procured for use on the Government estate must meet the policy’s standards of legality and sustainability. We will consider the approach to forest-risk commodities when other relevant Government Buying Standards are next updated.