The UK government has opened a consultation on proposals to require companies selling goods in Great Britain to assess their supply chains and ensure commodities such as soy, palm oil, cattle, cocoa, timber, coffee and rubber are not driving illegal deforestation overseas, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced.

The proposals, published 11 November 2026, were announced as politicians gathered for a forests summit at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya. Defra said the UK's consumption of deforestation-linked goods was associated with around 29,000 hectares of deforestation worldwide in 2023, fuelling 9.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions. The consultation seeks views from businesses, environmental organisations and international stakeholders on mandatory due diligence obligations under existing powers, including the Environment Act 2021, and on strengthening the UK Timber Regulation.

The government said it aims to align the Great Britain regime with Northern Ireland's, where the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products will apply in phases from 30 December 2026. It described its longer-term ambition as moving towards a deforestation-free standard.