EU postpones EUDR: New effective date for the EU's deforestation regulation

The EU postpones the application of the EUDR regulation (EU Deforestation Regulation), which regulates deforestation-free products. The targeted review aims to simplify the EUDR requirements and give companies more time to prepare for the due diligence and documentation requirements.

What is EUDR? Background of the EU's deforestation regulation

The EU's regulation on deforestation-free products, also known as EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation), is a key legislative initiative in the EU's efforts to combat global deforestation and forest degradation. The purpose of EUDR is to ensure that products placed on or exported from the EU market do not contribute to deforestation.

EUDR came into force in June 2023 as part of the EU's green agenda and imposes extensive due diligence requirements on companies. The regulation covers commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood, as well as products derived from them. The aim is to reduce the EU's global footprint on deforestation and promote sustainable and responsible supply chains.

Change in EUDR: The EU postpones the application to 2026

The EU Council of Ministers has now formally adopted a targeted review of the EUDR regulation. The revision aims to simplify the implementation of the EUDR rules and ensure that companies, traders, and authorities are sufficiently prepared to comply with the requirements of the EU deforestation regulation.

As a key part of the revision, the application of EUDR is postponed until December 30, 2026, for all companies. Micro-enterprises and small businesses receive an additional buffer period of six months. The postponement of EUDR is based on concerns about administrative burdens and the readiness of the IT system that will support EUDR's due diligence processes.

At the same time, the overall goal of the EUDR regulation to prevent deforestation and forest degradation associated with products on the EU market is maintained. To further reduce the administrative burden, certain printed products such as books, newspapers, and printed images have been removed from EUDR's scope, as they are assessed to pose a low risk of deforestation.

The revision also involves that the European Commission must evaluate the EUDR regulation with a focus on simplification. A report must be presented no later than April 30, 2026, and will, among other things, assess EUDR's effect and administrative consequences, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. The evaluation may, if necessary, be accompanied by a new legislative proposal.

The revised EUDR regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and comes into effect three days after publication.