The European Commission is considering postponing the entry into force of the EUDR Regulation on deforestation-free products.
Let us remind you that the EUDR Regulation (Regulation 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010) is one of the measures to implement the “Green Deal” agenda.
The Regulation lays down rules on the placing on the market and making available on the Union market, as well as on the export from the Union of so-called relevant products. These are the products listed in Annex I to the Regulation – cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soybeans and wood, as well as products derived from them.
The products concerned will not be allowed to be placed on the market, made available on the market or exported unless they meet strict conditions, in particular they do not cause deforestation.
In practice, the addressees of the obligations will be obliged in particular to: collect specific information, data or documents, collect appropriate statements of due diligence and introduce appropriate internal procedures.
Originally, large and medium-sized enterprises should apply these regulations from 30 December 2024. Other entities – from 30 June 2025 However, these deadlines have already been postponed by 12 months.
According to Commissioner Jessica Roswall, the deadline for the application of the regulation is to be postponed by a year – from 30 December 2025 to 2026.
The reason for this is the delays related to the construction and testing of a dedicated IT system that is to handle all transactions of operators in the supply chain.
The Commission points out that the shift will minimise technical risks and provide greater regulatory certainty for business in the EU and beyond.
At the moment, it is a proposal that needs to be implemented through a full legislative path – the adoption and publication of changes to the EUDR Regulation. If this initiative is undertaken, it should rather be expected that the finalization will take place at the end of the year.
