The European Parliament has bowed to pressure from various stakeholders and voted to delay a landmark deforestation regulation. Environmental NGOs and politicians warn the slowdown threatens forests and the climate.

The European Parliament sought on Thursday to water down a ban on the import of commodities such as beef and soy linked to deforestation, and backed a one year delay to the new rule, in a fresh push-back against the EU's environmental agenda.

The European Parliament voted on Thursday for a 12-month delay to the implementation of a law banning the import of commodities linked to deforestation, and adopted a series of amendments to weaken the law itself.