EU Delays Deforestation Regulation Implementation and Plans Simplifications for Businesses

Following the Council's decision on 26 November 2025, the European Parliament has now also voted in favour of a further postponement and a revision of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This gives responsible market participants more time. For large and medium-sized enterprises, the EUDR will now only apply from 30 December 2026, and for micro and small enterprises from 30 June 2027, instead of from the end of 2025 and the end of 2026, respectively, as originally planned.

In addition to postponing the implementation deadline, a revision is also planned, which should lead to far-reaching simplifications. The most significant change is that in future, the due diligence declaration will have to be submitted by the first distributor. For downstream market participants, it will suffice to pass on reference numbers. This will ease the burden on many companies. Further simplifications concern the provision of the business address instead of geodata in the due diligence declaration and the estimation of harvest volumes. In addition, adjustments to the information in the declaration will only be necessary in the event of fundamental changes. By the end of April 2026, the Commission is also to present an impact assessment to examine the effects of the simplifications.

The latest developments have been met with controversial reactions. Environmental politicians fear a massive setback in forest protection and see the Green Deal in jeopardy. Opinions are divided in the business community: while some companies welcome the revisions because they correspond to practical processes and lead to relief, large food companies, for example, are disappointed. They criticise that their investments already made are coming to nothing and complain about growing legal uncertainty.

The decision still has to be confirmed in the upcoming trilogue negotiations, but this is considered almost certain. The final vote is expected between 15 and 18 December.

Find more information here.