The European Parliament and the EU Council voted on 17 December 2024 to postpone the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) until the end of 2025. This will give large companies an extra year to comply with the complex due diligence requirements that aim to keep products linked to deforestation out of the EU market.
The EUDR, which was originally set to come into effect on 30 December 2024, has met with strong resistance from companies and countries. The regulation requires importers to provide detailed data, including geolocations of production plots, to ensure that their goods do not contribute to deforestation. These requirements have proven unachievable for many companies within the original deadline.
The new deadline not only gives companies more time to prepare, but also gives Member States the opportunity to increase their control capacity. The competent authorities in the Member States have already appointed additional inspectors in preparation for the EUDR. This makes it very likely that more inspections will take place in 2025, based on the existing EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).
Although the core of the EUDR remains unchanged, previous proposals for exceptions, such as a “no-risk” category for countries, have been rejected. These proposals were criticized by environmental organizations, among others, who warned of unfair competition and a weakening of the regulation.
These developments pave the way for a more manageable implementation of the EUDR. The additional EUTR inspections expected in 2025 underline the EU’s growing commitment to combating deforestation worldwide.
» Read the original news item “Deforestation law: Parliament gives companies extra year to comply”