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European Commission formally removes leather from EUDR scope

Jul 15, 2026 European Union

The European Commission has formally adopted a Delegated Act that removes cattle hides, skins and leather from the scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), confirming a proposal first put forward in May

The amendment to Annex I removes cattle hides, skins and leather from the list of products covered by the Regulation, as well as re-treaded tyres, soybeans for sowing, articles of vulcanised rubber, conveyor and transmission belts, and aircraft and motor vehicle seats.

Meanwhile, soluble coffee, selected palm oil derivatives, and frozen cattle tongues will be added to the scope of the regulation on the 30^th of December 2027.

The EU Commission stressed that the change only applies to products covered by the Regulation. Cattle remain one of the EUDR’s seven regulated commodities, meaning that products derived from cattle, such as beef, continue to be subject to the regulation’s requirements.

Following its publication and notification to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, the Delegated Act has entered a two-month scrutiny period before it can come into force. While Parliament has the option to request an extension, this is considered unlikely.

The decision has been welcomed by organisations representing the leather industry, which argue that hides are a by-product of the meat industry and that applying EUDR due diligence requirements to leather would impose significant compliance costs with limited environmental benefit.

Alongside the Delegated Act, the Commission adopted an Implementing Act setting out updated rules for the EUDR Information System. This includes simplified due diligence declarations for micro and small operators, revised technical specifications for businesses connecting to the system via APIs, and other improvements intended to streamline compliance ahead of the regulation’s implementation.

“With this package, we are providing the clarity and predictability that businesses, Member States and our international partners need to prepare for the application of the EU Deforestation Regulation at the end of 2026”, highlighted Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.

The EUDR is due to apply to large and medium-sized operators from the 30^th of December 2026, followed by micro and small enterprises from the 30^th of June 2027.

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