The implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been postponed a further year following a vote at the European Parliament this week.
Initially slated to come into effect at the end of 2024, the EUDR was first pushed back to 30 December 2025 due to concerns with Member State readiness and technical delays with the EU’s TRACES information system.
Large operators and traders will now have to respect to obligations of this regulation as of 30 December 2026, with micro- and small enterprises from 30 June 2027.
“This additional time is intended to guarantee a smooth transition and to allow the implementation of measures to strengthen the IT system that operators, traders, and their representatives use to make electronic due diligence statement,” a statement from the European Parliament reads.
The delay has also been made to reduce due diligence pressures on businesses further along in the coffee value chain.
“MEPs find the onus on submitting a due diligence statement should fall on the businesses who first introduce the relevant product onto the EU market, and not the operators and traders that subsequently commercialise it,” the statement reads.
“The changes by MEPs will also reduce the obligations for micro and small primary operators which would now only have to submit a one-off simplified declaration.”
Parliament has requested a simplification review by 30 April 2026 to assess the law’s impact and administrative burden.
This decision comes following an urgency procedure earlier this month to fast-track the new proposal by the Commission and vote on the delay.
