EU: Towards a further one-year deferral of the EUDR Regulation
The Regulation against Deforestation and Forest Degradation (RDEU) was to apply from 1 January 2025. After an initial postponement approved by the European authorities in 2024, a new proposal to shift its entry into force by an additional year has just been announced.
In a letter dated 23 September, European Commissioner for the Environment, Jessika Roswall, indicated that she would consider delaying the entry into force of the European Regulation on Imported Deforestation (EUDR), currently scheduled for 30 December 2025.
The main reason for this postponement would be concerns about the IT platform responsible for managing declarations of conformity. According to the Commission, the system is not yet ready to absorb the large amount of expected data, which could create uncertainty for the competent authorities and complicate business operations.
Discussions with Parliament and the Council are planned before any formal decision is taken, and the Commissioner does not exclude simplification of the regulation.
European Commissioner Christine Schneider (EPP) also calls for the introduction of a new category « zero risk » in the country classification. This would exempt certain States, including Member States, from due diligence obligations. However, the proposal had been rejected in the past.
This initiative is part of a sensitive trade context, shortly after the conclusion of an agreement between the EU and Indonesia, the world's leading exporter of palm oil. Brussels confirmed that Indonesia will have to comply fully with the requirements of the Regulation.
International Press