Breaking news: EU Deforestation Regulation postponed by one year

Postponement

The Council of the European Union today formally adopted the postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EUDR).

Companies are given another year to implement the new EU regulations of the EUDR. Large operators and traders must implement the EUDR from December 30th, 2026. For small operators and private individuals as well as Small and Medium-sized Enterprises the deadline of implementation is June 30th, 2027.

The EU Commission is also tasked with drawing up proposals for further simplifications by April 2026.

Companies will therefore be given more time to fulfill their due diligence obligations and ensure that the raw materials and products specified in the EUDR, including beef, wood, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and their derivatives, are sold in the EU or exported from the EU without contributing to deforestation.

Further simplifications – going forward

Further simplifications were adopted by the EU Parliament on December 17th, 2025. The announcement in the official journal of the EU is expected before the end of this year.

These relate to the rule that only operators must prepare and submit a due diligence statement. Unlike under the current legal situation, downstream operators and traders will no longer be required to prepare and submit such a due diligence statement:

Similarly, downstream operators and traders will only be required to collect the reference numbers of due diligence statement and simplified statements of their own supplier is an operator. Data collection will no longer be necessary for other downstream operators and dealers.