SANTOS, Brazil, May 22 (Reuters) - Coffee importers have increased the pace of shipments recently, seeking to avoid problems in December when the European Union's Regulation on Deforestation Free Products (EUDR) enter into force, said the International Coffee Organization (ICO) on Wednesday.

ICO's Executive Director Vanusia Nogueira said coffee stocks at producing countries are falling quickly as importers rush to send the beans to destination markets in Europe, trying to avoid future problems with the new legislation that will seek to deny entrance of agricultural products that were produced on deforested land. (Reporting by Roberto Samora, writing by Marcelo Teixeira in New York, editing by Chris Reese)