EU Commission Holds Line on Deforestation Regulation
The European Commission has proposed simplifications to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and confirmed its application from January 2026.
Although the EUDR now includes new exemptions and phase-ins for medium and large companies, the Commission's decision to resist additional postponement is welcome.
- The EU granted a 12-month delay in 2024.
- Another pause would have undermined the urgency of implementing one of the EU's most significant safeguards for forests, indigenous peoples, and local communities.
The EUDR aims to ensure that products sold in Europe — such as coffee, cocoa, palm oil, beef, leather, and timber — do not come from land where forests have been destroyed or which have been produced in violation of local laws.
Author's summary: EU deforestation regulation to start in 2026 despite new loopholes.