European regulatory bodies agree to delay EUDR

Brussels – The European Commission (EC), Council for the European Union and European Parliament (EP) on 3 Dec ratified a decision to postpone implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Large operators and traders will have to meet the EUDR's certification requirements from 30 Dec 2025, while micro- and small enterprises have until 30 June 2026 to comply.

The 12-month postponement follows weeks of confusion and uncertainty over the future of the controversial European anti-deforestation regulation.

Europe’s top ruling bodies, however, rejected a European Peoples’ Party amendment to create a new “zero risk” category – as voted through 14 Nov by the EP.

The proposed category would have removed the need for border controls on commodities imported from countries deemed deforestation-free.

However, the EC did agree to ‘consider’ in introduction of measures to simplify the implementation of the EUDR as part of a scheduled review in 2028.

Related story: Brussels must ‘come and see’ EUDR compliance efforts