EU Deforestation Regulation: Commission proposes 12 month delay to implementation
- Deforestation
- Sustainability/Due diligence
Summary
On 23 December, 2024, the European Commission published a Regulation that delayed the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The EUDR will now apply from 30 December 2025 for large EU companies, and 30 June 2026 for micro- and small EU companies, 12 months later than originally planned.
Commission publishes Regulation delaying implementation of EUDR
Regulation (EU) 2024/3234 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 as regards provisions relating to the date of application
Update
On 23 December, 2024, the European Commission published a Regulation that delayed the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The EUDR will now apply from 30 December 2025 for large EU companies, and 30 June 2026 for micro- and small EU companies, 12 months later than originally planned.
Impacted Products
Cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya
What is changing?
Under the EUDR (Regulation 2023/1115), EU operators must only trade and sell cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya, wood and their products on the EU market if they are “deforestation-free” and “legal”. EU companies putting these products on the EU market must issue a due diligence statement that includes the country or countries of production, and geolocation of all plots of land where the products were produced [see EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)].
The new rules were originally due to apply from 30 December 2024 for large EU companies, and from 30 June 2025 for micro- and small EU companies.
The EUDR obligations will now apply from 30 December 2025 for large EU companies and to 30 June 2026 for micro- and small EU companies.
The Regulation’s objectives and detailed requirements remain unchanged.
Under the EUDR, the Commission is also planning to classify countries or regions as low or high risk. Companies importing commodities or products from a country classified as low risk will not have to undertake the full risk assessment required under due diligence. Also, controls by EU Member State authorities will be lower for commodities or products from a low-risk origin. The Commission was due to publish these lists of countries by 30 December 2024, but must now publish them by 30 June 2025.
Why?
Several trading partners repeatedly expressed concerns that operators in their countries were not sufficiently prepared to supply commodities or products covered by the EUDR in line with the new rules by 30 December 2024. Some EU Member States and European stakeholders expressed similar concerns. The extra 12 months are intended to provide a phasing-in period to ensure the new rules are implemented effectively. This period will also allow further time for the EU to engage with trading partners that have expressed concerns.
Timeline
This Regulation applies from 26 December, 2024.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
This Regulation does not change the steps producers and exporters of beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, and soya must take to meet the new requirements. However, it does provide additional time to put the necessary information and traceability systems in place.
Background
See EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Resources
European Commission (2024) Commission strengthens support for EU Deforestation Regulation implementation and proposes extra 12 months of phasing-in time, responding to calls by global partners. Press release, 2 October.
Commission website: Regulation on Deforestation-free Products - EUDR
Commission website: Obligations for SMEs operating under EUDR
Sources
Proposal for a Regulation amending the EU Deforestation Regulation as regards provisions relating to the date of application
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Commission publishes Regulation delaying implementation of EUDR
Regulation (EU) 2024/3234 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 as regards provisions relating to the date of application
What is changing and why?
The EU has delayed the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) so that its obligations will apply from 30 December 2025 for large EU companies, and 30 June 2026 for micro- and small EU companies, 12 months later than originally planned.
The delay is in response to concerns expressed by some EU Member States and trading partners that many operators are not sufficiently prepared to comply with all the Regulation’s requirements by the end of 2024.
Timeline
This Regulation applies from 26 December, 2024.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.