EUDR UPDATE

The European Commission is considering a fresh delay of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), potentially pushing the compliance deadline to December 2026. This further extension aims to address ongoing IT system challenges and operational concerns faced by authorities and businesses across Europe and beyond.​

EU Deforestation Regulation: Application May Be Delayed

The EUDR, designed to ensure that products on the EU market do not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation, was set to come into effect on December 30, 2025, following a previous one-year postponement. However, according to a notification sent by the EU Environment Commissioner on September 23, 2025, another year’s delay is now under consideration.​

What’s Causing the Delay?

The core reason for this proposed deferral centers on persistent IT-related issues. These technical concerns could leave authorities and stakeholders exposed to uncertainty, while also complicating operational readiness within the EU and in third countries supplying to the market. The Environment Commissioner emphasized the need for more time to address risks associated with the IT system’s architecture and its ability to reliably manage the expected workload once EUDR requirements are enforced.

Politics and pushback

Parliament is split: Left, Green, and Socialist MEPs oppose reopening the law and urge the Commission to make systems operational by year‑end with contingency plans, while center‑right voices support a delay paired with simplification debates like risk categories.​

NGOs and several brands argue another postponement weakens forest protections and business certainty, even as some industry players call for more time to avoid IT‑driven disruption at launch

​Who Will Be Affected?

The one-year extension would impact EU-based companies as well as global suppliers that export products to or from the EU covered by the regulation. The delay offers stakeholders additional time to prepare, align their processes, and ensure compliance with EUDR’s objective to prevent deforestation driven by supply chains.​

What Happens Next?

Discussions between the European Commission, Parliament, and Council are expected before any official announcement is made. Companies subject to EUDR should closely monitor these developments and continue preparing for eventual enforcement, leveraging the additional time to strengthen compliance programs and IT systems.

This postponement reflects the EU’s commitment to effective regulation while ensuring practical implementation for all parties involved. Stay tuned for further updates as negotiations progress and a formal decision is announced.