EU Council backs EUDR delay and simplification

Yesterday, the EU Council agreed to a one-year delay to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) — until a 30 June 2026. The aim is to simplify the implementation of the existing rules and to postpone the application to allow operators, traders and authorities to prepare adequately.

The postponement follows concerns from member states and stakeholders about the readiness of companies and administrations, as well as about technical issues related to the new information system. Now there is a one-year postponement of the EUDR implementation for large and medium operators until 30 December 2026, with an extra six-month cushion – until 30 June 2027 – for micro and small operators.

The anti-deforestation regulations were adopted on 19 April 2023 and initially due to be enforced on 30 December 2024. Concerns raised by member states, third countries, traders and operators about readiness delayed the rules by one year.

The Council removed the ‘grace period’ initially proposed by the Commission for large and medium companies, opting instead to extend the application date for all operators, regardless of their size. The mandate includes the simplification measures originally proposed by the Commission to reduce administrative burdens while preserving the objectives of the regulation.

Changes have been proposed to further reduce the administrative burden on operators, particularly small and micro operators and to allow for a smooth implementation of the regulation. Under the Council’s position:
• the obligation and responsibility for submitting the required due diligence statement would fall exclusively on the operators who first place the product on the market
• downstream operators and traders would no longer have to submit separate due diligence statements, but only the first downstream operators must keep and pass on the reference number of the initial statement
• micro and small primary operators would submit only a one-off simplified declaration

The Council also asked the European Commission to conduct a simplification review assessing the EUDR’s impact and administrative burden on operators, particularly small and micro operators by 30 April 2026. This would evaluate the regulation’s impact and administrative burden on the industry, particularly smaller businesses.

This does not mean the delay is confirmed. The Council, Parliament and Commission will start negotiations again before a final vote in December. The current deadline remains 30 December 2025. — Vanessa L Facenda