Following the vote in the European Parliament on December 17 and the approval of the Council, it is now clear: The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will be simplified in targeted ways and postponed by another year.
New application dates
- December 30, 2026: medium-sized and large companies
- June 30, 2027: micro and small enterprises
- December 30, 2026: micro and small enterprises already covered by the EUTR
Simplified scope
- HS Chapter 49 excluded
- Books, newspapers and other printed products are no longer covered
Relief for downstream market participants
- Due diligence obligations lie primarily with the first company placing the product on the EU market (“operator”)
- Downstream companies (“downstream operators”) must, where the supplier is the operator, collect due diligence statement (DDS) reference numbers and have processes in place for non-negligible risks.
Relief for micro and small primary producers
- Simplified declarations for micro and small enterprises from low-risk countries that produce relevant commodities themselves
Next steps
- Next, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force three days later.
- The European Commission will present a further simplification report by April 2026. It will focus on reducing administrative burden, particularly for micro and small enterprises.
Assessment
The additional time eases short-term pressure but does not change the underlying complexity. The full due diligence obligation remains in place for operators placing products on the market first. Downstream market participants get relief but still need to set up suitable systems for EUDR compliance.
