EU Council approves 12-month postponement of the EUDR. The European Parliament still has to approve the amended regulation

Following European Commission proposal, the Council of the European Union has recently adopted a favorable position on amending EUDR, the EU regulation to combat deforestation, giving companies and third countries additional time to implement the new requirements. This decision comes in response to concerns expressed by Member States, third countries and economic operators about the challenges encountered in the compliance process.

What does this delay mean for the timber industry?

Under the new timetable, the obligations will become applicable as follows:
- December 30, 2025 - for large operators and traders
- June 30, 2026 - for micro and small enterprises

This change gives the industry extra time to:
- Implementing due diligence systems
- Identifying deforestation risks in supply chains
- Developing monitoring and reporting mechanisms

Which products are concerned?

The regulation applies to several categories of products, including:
- Wood and wood products
- Bovine
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Palm oil
- Rubber
- Soya
- Products derived from them

What is the ultimate goal?

The aim of the regulation remains unchanged: to reduce the EU's contribution to global deforestation. Products traded on the EU market or exported from the EU must be "deforestation-free" - i.e. sourced from areas that have not been subject to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020.

What are the next steps?

For the amendment to enter into force, it must also be approved by the European Parliament. The legislative process is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The postponement is a breathing space for timber companies to improve their traceability systems and ensure full compliance with new EU requirements on sustainability and forest protection.

Source: European Council