EU postpones the implementation of the Deforestation Regulation to the end of 2025

The European Commission has published additional guidance documents to “strengthen support” for the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). According to it, companies supplying the EU with cocoa, coffee, palm oil, cattle, soy, rubber and timber must provide evidence that the production of their products is not related to deforestation and that the products are sourced legally.

The new Regulation stipulates that only those companies will be allowed to sell their products in the EU that can document that the production of their products was not carried out on land obtained through deforestation and that it did not lead to forest degradation after December 31, 2020.

The aim of the Regulation is to reduce the EU’s involvement in global deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and global biodiversity loss.

The new Regulation is to replace the EU Timber Law and enter into force in December 2024. If approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, it will not apply from December 30, 2024, as previously thought, but from December 30, 2025 for large companies and from June 30, 2026 for micro and small enterprises.

The European Commission states that the tools for the technical implementation of the law are ready, and the additional 12 months will be “a period of phasing in new measures.”

Tags: EU, legislation