The EU is one of the largest importers of commodities stemming from illegally deforested land, according to a new report published today by Brussels-based environmental group Fern: between 2000 and 2012, forests the size of a football field were illegally cleared every two minutes to supply European consumers with beef, soybeans, leather and palm oil. In 2012, the EU imported 6 billion euros worth of these products linked to illegal deforestation - almost a quarter of the total world trade, the report reveals. Around 25% of all soy, 18% of palm oil, 15% of beef and 31% of all leather produced on land illegally cleared of forest is destined for the EU. “It is well documented that the EU has been leading the world in imports of products which drive deforestation, but this is the first time that we have data showing that much of this deforestation is also illegal”, said Saskia Ozinga, Campaigns Coordinator at Fern. The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, France and the UK are the main destination countries. While the Netherlands and Germany are the main importers of palm oil, the UK is by far the largest consumer of beef from illegal deforestation. Most of the products originate in Brazil and Indonesia, where 90% and 80% of deforestation respectively is thought to be illegal, Fern said. Soy and cattle are also the main drivers of deforestation in Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. The Fern campaigners are calling on the EU to take action to halt illegal deforestation by addressing its current trade and consumption patterns in agricultural commodities. Demand for forest-risk commodities is being driven by a number of different EU policies, such as agriculture, trade and energy policy, Ozinga explains. "We urgently need an Action Plan to make these different policies coherent, reduce EU consumption and ensure we only import legal and sustainably produced commodities." (ab)