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EU Parliament approves one-year postponement of EUDR start date

Dec 2, 2025 European Union

The European Parliament has approved the Council’s proposal to postpone the EU Deforestation Regulation’s entry into force by one year, a move intended to simplify due diligence requirements for all stakeholders

This approval was secured with a majority vote in the plenary session on the 26^th of November. Under the revised timeline, large operators and traders must comply with the regulation by the 30^th of December 2026, while micro and small enterprises must comply by the 30^thof June 2027.

This additional time is intended to guarantee a smooth transition, as well as allow time for the implementation of measures to strengthen the IT system used by operators, traders and their representatives to make electronic due diligence statements.

Although the need for postponement was anticipated in September by Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, the Commission unexpectedly proposed in October that medium and large companies begin complying as early as the 30^th of December 2025. The final decision has now been made.

In general, MEPs agreed that only businesses first placing a product on the EU market should submit due-diligence statements, easing obligations for operators further down the chain. Micro and small primary operators would only need to complete a one-off simplified declaration. A review of the regulation’s administrative impact by the 30th of April 2026 was also requested.

Parliament is now ready to begin negotiations with the Member States on the final form of the legislation. It must be approved by Parliament and the Council and published in the EU Official Journal before the end of 2025.

The aim of this regulation is to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation linked to the EU’s consumption of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, wood, rubber, charcoal, printed paper and cattle products.

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