In Europe, MEPs have adopted the Parliament's position to simplify the EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was adopted in 2023 to ensure products sold in the EU are not sourced from deforested land.
MEPs voted on targeted solutions to make it easier for companies, global stakeholders, as well as both EU and non-EU countries, to implement the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The text, which was adopted by 402 votes to 250 and eight abstentions, follows their decision at the last plenary to fast-track a new proposal from the European Commission.
One-year postponement for all companies
According to Parliament’s position, companies will have an additional year to comply with new EU rules to prevent deforestation.
Large operators and traders will now have to respect the obligations of this regulation as of December 30, 2026, and micro- and small enterprises from June 30, 2027.
This additional time is intended to guarantee a smooth transition and to allow the implementation of measures to strengthen the IT system that operators, traders, and their representatives use to make electronic due diligence statements.
Simplification of due diligence requirements
MEPs find that the onus on submitting a due diligence statement should fall on the businesses that first introduce the relevant product onto the EU market, and not the operators and traders that subsequently commercialise it.
The changes by MEPs will also reduce the obligations for micro and small primary operators, which would now only have to submit a one-off simplified declaration.
Parliament requested a simplification review by April 30, 2026, to assess the law’s impact and administrative burden.
Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with member states on the final shape of the law, which has to be endorsed by both Parliament and the Council and published in the EU Official Journal before the end of 2025, for the one-year delay to enter into force.
