The European Parliament has approved the proposal presented by the Commission on October 2 to postpone the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, known as EUDR, by twelve months. Originally published in May 2023, the regulation was initially scheduled to apply from December 30, 2024. This extension aims to provide companies with more time to adapt to the regulation’s requirements, ensure clarity on the steps to follow, and support its successful implementation.

Additionally, the Parliament approved several amendments proposed by various political groups, including the creation of a new category of countries classified as “no-risk” for deforestation. This new category complements the existing three categories of "low," "standard," and "high" risk. Countries in the "no-risk" category will be subject to significantly less stringent requirements, as they pose an insignificant or nonexistent risk of deforestation.

The European Commission, for its part, will need to establish a benchmarking system to assess countries by June 30, 2025.

As a result of this amendment, the EUDR regulation will apply from December 30, 2025, for large companies and from June 30, 2026, for micro and small enterprises.

Furthermore, the Commission has published a series of guidance documents to support stakeholders in the supply chain, EU Member States, and third countries in preparing for the implementation of the new regulation. An updated FAQ document has also been released to address the concerns raised by numerous stakeholders worldwide.

In addition, a dedicated webpage has been created to outline the less stringent regime designed for micro and small enterprises.

The primary objective of the EUDR regulation is to prevent deforestation and forest degradation associated with agricultural commodities imported into the European Union, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

MORE INFORMATION

· EU Parliament News: EU deforestation law: Parliament wants to give companies one more year to comply
· EU Commission News: Commission proposes a 12-month extension for the application of the Deforestation Regulation