OSLO, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Norway will adopt key elements of the European Union's (EU) Deforestation Regulation as part of its efforts to combat climate change and prevent biodiversity loss, the Norwegian government said on Monday.

Under the new policy, Norway will introduce stricter requirements for high-risk products commonly linked to deforestation, including wood, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and palm oil, the government said in a press release.

"The conversion of forests into agricultural land accounts for nearly 90 percent of global deforestation," said Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen. "Consumers should be confident that the products they buy do not contribute to the destruction of critical natural areas."

The Norwegian government has decided to incorporate the EU Deforestation Regulation into the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. This step ensures that the regulation's EEA-relevant parts will apply in Norway, aligning the country's environmental standards with those of the EU.

Norway will not apply the regulation to agricultural products such as beef and soy, nor to exports to countries outside the EEA, as these fall outside the scope of the EEA Agreement. However, national regulations for these products will be considered.

The EU Deforestation Regulation was adopted in 2023 and will take effect on Dec. 30, 2025. ■