European Union member states have agreed to push for a new postponement of the entry into force of the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which would now apply from 30 December 2026 for medium and large companies, and from June 2027 for micro and small operators.
The decision is part of the negotiating mandate adopted by the EU Council, which also includes a review aimed at simplifying due diligence requirements and reducing the administrative burden for operators and authorities. The proposals were widely reported by Bloomberg, ENDS Europe, FoodNavigator and Food Ingredients First, while the Council itself issued a statement detailing the changes.
The delay reflects the difficulties faced by industry and several member states in meeting the georeferenced traceability requirements ahead of the original start date at the end of 2025. In addition, EU countries argued that the digital systems needed to verify the information are not yet fully operational, which could create bottlenecks in trade.
Although the Council’s position marks a significant political step forward, the new timetable still has to be negotiated with the European Parliament before final adoption. Environmental organizations and some MEPs have already voiced concern about the impact that a postponement could have on the bloc’s climate objectives, while the private sector has welcomed the move as temporary relief in view of the regulation’s technical complexity.
With the Council’s position now defined, the next step will be the adoption of the European Parliament’s negotiating stance, scheduled for next week during the plenary session in Strasbourg. Only after that will interinstitutional negotiations begin to close the final text.
