Key takeaways on the latest updates on the EUDR law
- EUDR delayed: Large companies now face compliance from end-2026; smaller operators from mid-2027.
- Simplified rules: Reporting obligations shift to first market operators; lighter requirements for small businesses.
- Scope changes: Printed products removed; core commodities like palm oil remain covered.
- Next review: EU to assess administrative burden by April 2026, with potential further changes.
The EU Parliament and Council have agreed that the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will now come into force at the end of 2026 for large companies and mid-2027 for smaller operators.
On 4 December, the European Parliament and Council announced a provisional agreement to simplify and delay the EUDR. When the law is eventually introduced, companies importing to or exporting from EU markets must ensure their products do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation.
The regulation sets rules for companies placing relevant products on the EU market or exporting them, introducing mandatory due diligence requirements.
These will include tracing products back to the plot of land where they were produced, proving they were not grown on land subject to deforestation after 2020, and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws in the country of production.
On behalf of the European Parliament, MEP Christine Schneider said: “The heart of the EU deforestation regulation remains intact. We are protecting forests that face a real risk of deforestation, while avoiding unnecessary obligations in areas where no such risk exists. This agreement takes the concerns of farmers, foresters and businesses seriously and ensures that the regulation can be implemented in a practical and workable way.”
More delays for EUDR
The EUDR was first introduced by the European Commission in November 2021 and adopted in 2023, aiming to ban deforestation-linked products from the EU market and establish strong compliance requirements for companies dealing with key commodities such as palm oil and coffee.
Initially set to come into force at the end of 2024, the regulation was delayed by a year to give companies more time to prepare. In September 2025, the Commission considered a second delay due to concerns about IT systems’ ability to handle the data load.
The Commission said it will review the impact of the law early next year for potential further simplification. The latest proposal introduces measures to ease compliance, shifting reporting obligations to operators placing products on the market. Downstream operators such as retailers or manufacturers will no longer need to submit due diligence statements, requiring only one submission in the EUDR IT system instead of multiple ones.
Why the EU is delaying EUDR implementation
According to the EU Council, the delay was decided “following concerns from member states and stakeholders about the readiness of companies and administrations, as well as technical issues related to the new information system.”
Several major companies have warned that further delays and changes could create uncertainty and penalise businesses that have already invested in compliance systems.
The agreement also calls for a new simplification review by April 2026, even before the new implementation dates, to assess administrative burdens and impacts, potentially leading to further changes.
