The European Commission has proposed new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) implementation deadlines and compliance measures. Under the updated proposal released October 20, 2025:
- Large and medium-sized enterprises must comply by December 30, 2025, but will receive a six-month grace period for enforcement.
- Micro and small enterprises will have until December 30, 2026.
These adjusted timelines are designed to give companies more time to adapt and to strengthen the EUDR’s IT system, which has seen higher-than-expected projected demand as more global supply chains prepare to file due diligence statements.
There had been discussions over the past several months the Commission was considering a complete delay until December 2026. The European Parliament has already delayed implementation once, moving the launch from December 30, 2024, to December 30, 2025.
The Southern Forest Products Association recently joined several organizations representing the U.S. forestry and forest products sector value chain to urge the Commission to avoid a rushed process and take the time necessary to pursue simplification with great care.
SFPA continues to engage with U.S. trade representatives and the Department of Commerce, as well as other organizations representing affected commodities, to highlight the significant challenges the EUDR poses to the agricultural and forest products supply chain, especially in how it may impact Southern Pine exports.
Compliance for Businesses
In addition to new deadlines, the Commission’s proposal introduces targeted simplifications it claims will reduce administrative burdens, particularly for small producers and downstream companies.
Key updates include:
- One due diligence submission per product: Only the first operator placing a product on the EU market, such as an importer, must file a due diligence statement. Downstream companies, such as retailers or manufacturers, will not need to submit duplicate reports.
- Example: For cocoa, only the importer needs to file; chocolate manufacturers will be exempt from additional submissions.
- One-time declarations for micro and small operators: Primary operators from low-risk countries will only need to file a simple, one-off declaration in the EUDR IT system. If relevant data already exists in a Member State database, no further action will be required.
These changes maintain a traceability framework while cutting redundant reporting, aligning with the Commission’s broader goal of reducing administrative costs by 30%.
Strengthening the IT System
Since launching the EUDR IT system in December 2024, the Commission has collaborated closely with stakeholders to fine-tune its capacity. Updated projections show significantly more activity than initially anticipated.
The extended implementation schedule, combined with streamlined reporting, will ensure the system can handle the full load of due diligence statements and data exchanges once enforcement begins. Contingency plans are also being developed in case the legal proposal is not adopted in time, meaning the EUDR would still take effect for all companies on December 30, 2025, as originally planned.
Next Steps
The EU Deforestation Regulation, in force since June 2023, aims to ensure that key commodities sold within the EU, such as timber, coffee, soy, cocoa, palm oil, and cattle, do not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation. In terms of next steps, this latest proposal must be approved by the EU Parliament and Council.