Page 7 - Craftcil August 2025

M eetings & announcements

EPCH seeks Government Intervention on European Union Deforestation Regulations

(EUDR) to Safeguard Indian Wooden Handicrafts Exports

Trade Speeds up representation for Early Solution - calls on Shri Giriraj Singh,
Hon'ble Union Minister of Textiles, Govt. of India; and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,

Hon'ble Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India, for intervention

A delegation of handicrafts exporters led by Mr. Sagar Mehta, Vice Chairman, EPCH and Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General in the role of Chief Mentor, EPCH
and Chairman, IEML, met Shri Giriraj Singh, Hon'ble Union Minister of Textiles, Govt. of India and Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon'ble Union Minister of
Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India. The meetings also saw the presence of Mr. R K Verma, Executive Director, EPCH; Mr. Rajesh Rawat, Addl. Executive Director,
EPCH; and prominent member exporters from Saharanpur - Mr. Manoj Bothra, Mr. Rajendra Bansal, Mr. J P Jain, Mr. Ashish Mehta, Mr. Parminder Singh,
Mr. Gaurav Jain and Mr. Manish Purohit.

21st August 2025, New Delhi: A high-level delegation of outside natural forests and do not contribute to deforestation.
handicraft exporters led by Mr. Sagar Mehta, Vice Chairman, EPCH, He further cautioned, "if implemented without contextual
and Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General in the role of Chief Mentor adjustments, such stringent requirements could disrupt the sector.
EPCH and Chairman, IEML, met Shri. Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Many artisans and MSME exporters may lose access to EU markets,
Minister of Textiles, Government of India, and Shri . Gajendra Singh leading to reduced production, cancelled orders, and widespread
Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, unemployment among artisans and their families."
Government of India, to discuss and request government
Emphasising policy-level support, Dr. Rakesh Kumar noted, “the
intervention on compliance requirements under the European
handicrafts sector is the economic backbone for millions of artisans
Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR).
in rural and semi-urban India. Despite sustainable sourcing practices,
The meetings also saw the presence of Mr. R K Verma, Executive EUDR applies uniform obligations to all timber exporters,
Director, EPCH; Mr. Rajesh Rawat, Addl. Executive Director, EPCH; disregarding country-specific realities. Without government
and prominent member exporters from Saharanpur - Mr. Manoj support, compliance could become prohibitively complex for our
Bothra, Mr. Rajendra Bansal, Mr. J P Jain, Mr. Ashish Mehta, Mr. Parminder exporters. We need a collective approach combining regulatory
Singh, Mr. Gaurav Jain andMr. Manish Purohit. The delegation also backing with proactive engagement with the EU."
met high level officials to discuss the matter in detail. He urged the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to engage with the

Concerning the impact of EUDR, Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman-EPCH, EU to seek exemptions for Mango, Acacia, and Sheesham wood,
said, "while we appreciate the EU's commitment to combating and requested the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate
deforestation, the EUDR compliance requirements could severely Change and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to issue
impact our wooden handicrafts exporters. Our wooden handicrafts directives enabling geo-location data collection at the time of
are primarily made from Mango, Acacia and Sheesham wood which harvesting, thereby helping exporters establish a verifiable
are sourced largely from agroforestry. These species are grown deforestation-free chain of custody. „

CRAFTCIL • AUGUST 2025 7