The European Union Council has formally adopted amendments to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), completing the final legislative step to delay the implementation of the bloc’s landmark supply chain deforestation law and introduce targeted simplifications.

Under the revised regulation, the application of the EUDR will be postponed by one year, with large and medium-sized companies required to comply by December 30, 2026, and micro and small operators by June 30, 2027. The changes are intended to address concerns from member states and stakeholders about readiness, particularly regarding technical systems and administrative burdens.

The updated framework also streamlines due diligence obligations by limiting the requirement to submit due diligence statements to operators first placing products on the EU market and simplifying compliance for small and micro operators. In addition, certain printed products, such as books and newspapers, have been removed from the scope of the regulation, recognising their limited risk of contributing to deforestation.

As part of the adopted revisions, the European Commission is mandated to conduct a simplification review by April 30, 2026, to assess the regulation’s administrative impact and consider further adjustments. Despite the delay, the regulation’s core aim—to ensure products entering or leaving the EU market are not linked to deforestation—remains intact.

The EUDR originally adopted in 2023 sets due diligence requirements for key commodities including palm oil, beef, timber, coffee, cocoa, rubber and soy, as well as many derived products, requiring companies to trace goods back to the plot of land where they were produced and prove deforestation-free status.