Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that requires companies that produce forest-risk commodities such as palm oil, cattle, soy, rubber, paper/pulp, and timber maintain a No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policy.

Highlights:

• Requires companies that produce the following forest-risk commodities maintain a “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” (NDPE) policy, including (Sec. 2):

• Palm oil;

• Cattle;

• Soy;

• Rubber;

• Paper or pulp; and 

• Timber.

• Defines “peat” as soil rich in organic matter composed of partially decomposed plant materials equal to or greater than 40 centimeters of the top 100 centimeters of soil (Sec. 2).

• Requires companies that produce the aforementioned products certify that their operations are not linked to tropical forest destruction and degradation or abuses of indiginious peoples’ rights (Sec. 2).

• Defines “ tropical forest” as a natural ecosystem within the tropics containing native species composition, structure, and ecological function, with a tree canopy cover of more than 10 percent over an area of .5 hectares and specifies that no tree plantation shall be included (Sec. 2).

• Defines “tropical deforestation” as direct human-induced conversion of tropical forest to agriculture, a tree plantation, or other non forest land use, or severe and sustained degradation of tropical forest resulting in significant intact forest loss or a profound charge in species composition, structure, or ecological function of that forest (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires companies that produce forest-risk commodities such as palm oil, cattle, soy, rubber, paper/pulp, and timber maintain a No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation (NDPE) policy.

Highlights:

• Requires companies that produce the following forest-risk commodities maintain a “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” (NDPE) policy, including (Sec. 2):

• Palm oil;

• Cattle;

• Soy;

• Rubber;

• Paper or pulp; and 

• Timber.

• Defines “peat” as soil rich in organic matter composed of partially decomposed plant materials equal to or greater than 40 centimeters of the top 100 centimeters of soil (Sec. 2).

• Requires companies that produce the aforementioned products certify that their operations are not linked to tropical forest destruction and degradation or abuses of indiginious peoples’ rights (Sec. 2).

• Defines “ tropical forest” as a natural ecosystem within the tropics containing native species composition, structure, and ecological function, with a tree canopy cover of more than 10 percent over an area of .5 hectares and specifies that no tree plantation shall be included (Sec. 2).

• Defines “tropical deforestation” as direct human-induced conversion of tropical forest to agriculture, a tree plantation, or other non forest land use, or severe and sustained degradation of tropical forest resulting in significant intact forest loss or a profound charge in species composition, structure, or ecological function of that forest (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text