EU Commission proposes one-year delay to EUDR enforcement

On 23 September 2025, the European Commission (EC) signalled a proposal to postpone the enforcement date of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by one year. While the formal enforcement date of 30 December 2025 still stands for now, this development introduces uncertainty in the timeline.

What did the European Commission announce about the EUDR delay?

• On 23 September 2025, EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall sent a letter to the European Parliament’s Environment Committee and the Council proposing a one-year extension of the EUDR enforcement date.
• The Commission’s internal assessment found that the IT system supporting EUDR due-diligence filings — TRACES NT — may not be ready to handle the expected transaction volume.
• This is not yet a legally binding change. The current deadline stands until an amendment to the regulation is formally adopted by both the Council and Parliament.

How will the EU make the proposed EUDR delay official?

The EUDR can only be amended through the EU’s ordinary legislative procedure:

1. The European Commission must submit a formal proposal to amend the enforcement date.
2. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union must debate, possibly amend, then approve the proposal.
3. Once adopted, the amendment must be published in the Official Journal of the European Union — only then does the new date become legally binding.

Until these steps are completed, the 30 December 2025 date remains applicable.

What timeline can companies expect for the EUDR delay?

• The letter from the European Commission is a political signal, not a final decision. The timeline depends on how quickly the EU institutions move.
• Possible scenarios:
  • No proposal submitted → current deadline remains (though unlikely).
  • Proposal fast-tracked → delay becomes law by end 2025.
  • Negotiations take longer → decision in 2026.
• If the proposed delay is adopted, the most likely outcome is:
  • Large and medium enterprises: new enforcement date → 30 December 2026.
  • Small and micro-enterprises: possibly 30 June 2027.

Conclusion

While the announcement on 23 September 2025 suggests that a one-year postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) enforcement may be coming, it is not yet law. Until the formal amendment is adopted, companies must proceed as if the 30 December 2025 date remains binding.

That means continuing to prepare and strengthen compliance systems now. If the delay is eventually confirmed, it will provide a valuable window to refine processes, engage suppliers, and ensure readiness ahead of enforcement. In both cases, proactive preparation remains the lowest-risk path.