EU Parliament votes to delay deforestation regulation

Brussels – European Parliament has voted to simplify the EU’s anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) and to delay its implementation by one year, giving businesses more time to meet the new compliance requirements.

Under the 26 Nov decision, large operators and traders will now have to meet the regulation’s obligations from 30 Dec 2026, while micro- and small enterprises will follow from 30 June 2027.

The extension is intended to “guarantee a smooth transition” and to allow companies and their representatives to upgrade IT systems needed to submit due diligence statements (DDS).

In another key step, MEPs also clarified that responsibility for submitting a DDS should lie with the business that first places the product on the EU market, rather than with operators and traders further down the chain. (ERJ report)

Obligations for micro and small primary operators would also be reduced, with these companies required only to file a "one-off simplified declaration".

Parliament has asked the European Commission to carry out a simplification review by 30 April 2026, assessing the administrative burden and overall impact of the law.

MEPs said they are ready to open negotiations with member states on the final text.

For the one-year delay to take effect, the law must be approved by both Parliament and Council and published in the EU Official Journal before the end of 2025.

EUDR entered into force in June 2023 with the aim of ensuring that certain commodities, such as natural rubber, cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, soya and wood, as well as their derived products placed on or exported from the EU market have not caused deforestation or forest degradation.

The main provisions were initially due to apply from 30 Dec 2024 but were delayed by a year due to concerns raised by member states, third countries, traders and operators.