The European Parliament has adopted targeted amendments to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), extending compliance deadlines and simplifying requirements for businesses, particularly small and micro operators. This is the second EUDR delay after Parliament delayed it November 14, 2024.
Large operators and traders must now be EUDR compliant starting December 30, 2026, while small operators, including individuals and enterprises with fewer than 50 employees and annual turnover of less than €10 million (or roughly $11.7 million USD), will have until June 30, 2027.
“The Southern Forest Products Association welcomes the additional delay in the implementation of the EUDR and appreciates the opportunity for further engagement on its practical application,” said Eric Gee, SFPA’s executive director. “Additional time will allow stakeholders to work constructively toward solutions that are workable for responsible, low-risk supply chains, including those in the United States. SFPA remains committed to collaborating with EU institutions and U.S. forest sector partners to support approaches that uphold rigorous environmental objectives while promoting transparency, fairness, and stability in global forest products markets.”
The extension is intended to ensure a smooth transition and allow time to improve the EU’s IT system used for submitting electronic due diligence statements.
Updated Due Diligence Requirements in EUDR Delay
Micro and small primary operators will now submit a one-time simplified declaration, reducing administrative burden without weakening the regulation’s objectives.
Only businesses placing a relevant product on the EU market for the first time will be required to submit due diligence statements. Operators and traders further down the supply chain will no longer have to comply with this.
Printed products have also been excluded from the regulation’s scope, following requests from Parliament.
Parliament’s rapporteur, Christine Schneider, said the changes preserve the regulation’s core purpose while making it more practical.
“The heart of the EU deforestation regulation remains intact,” Schneider said. “We are protecting forests that face a real risk of deforestation, while avoiding unnecessary obligations where no such risk exists. This agreement addresses the concerns of farmers, foresters, and businesses and ensures the regulation can be implemented in a workable way.”
The European Commission must present a report by April 30, 2026, assessing the regulation’s impact and administrative burden, with particular attention to micro and small operators.
Parliament approved the delay by a vote of 405 to 242, with eight abstentions.
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