EU Delays Deforestation Regulation Implementation by One Year but Discards Changes

• Extended Deadline: The EU postpones the application of its deforestation regulation to December 30, 2025.
• Preparation Time: Businesses and authorities gain an extra year to establish due diligence systems.
• Regulation Unchanged: Core objectives remain to ensure only deforestation-free products enter or exit the EU market.

The European Union has agreed to delay the enforcement of its deforestation regulation by 12 months, moving the application date to December 30, 2025. This decision aims to provide additional time for businesses, farmers, and authorities to fully prepare for compliance with the new due diligence obligations.

Why it matters: The regulation targets commodities like cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and their derived products, ensuring they are deforestation-free before being sold in or exported from the EU.

Official stance: Christine Schneider (EPP, DE), the Parliament’s rapporteur, commented:

“We promised and we have delivered. This postponement means businesses, foresters, farmers and authorities will have an additional year to prepare. We ensured the Commission will complete the online platform and the risk categorisation in six months, ensuring more predictability across the supply chain. An impact assessment and further simplification is to follow in the review stage for the low-risk countries or regions, providing countries with an incentive to improve their forest conservation practices.

We would have preferred to see several issues directly enshrined in the law, but the Council refused. It is now up to the Commission to deliver on its commitments. We MEPs will closely monitor this process, in particular efforts towards reducing bureaucracy.”

The bigger picture:

Despite the delay, the substance of the regulation remains intact. The EU continues its commitment to minimize its contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said:

“With the agreement just reached between the European Parliament and the Council, a 12-month additional time is given to all businesses, farmers and a variety of international stakeholders that need to implement the EU Deforestation Regulation. The Commission has listened to their feedback and I am glad that our balanced proposal has been accepted, giving additional certainty and predictability to businesses.”

Background:

Between 1990 and 2020, an area larger than the EU—420 million hectares of forest—was lost to deforestation, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The EU’s consumption accounts for approximately 10% of global deforestation, with palm oil and soy being significant contributors.

Next steps:

The provisional agreement requires endorsement by both the Council and the European Parliament. Formal adoption is expected before the end of the year, ensuring the delay is in force ahead of the original December 30, 2024, application date.

RELATED ARTICLE: EU Parliament Agree to Postpone, Soften Deforestation Ban on Imports

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