Today the Council adopted its negotiating mandate on a targeted revision of the EU regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). The aim is to simplify the implementation of the existing rules and to postpone their application to allow operators, traders and authorities to prepare adequately.
Following concerns from member states and stakeholders about the readiness of companies and administrations, as well as about technical issues related to the new information system, the Council supports the Commission’s targeted simplification of the due diligence process. The Council also pushes to introduce a uniform one-year postponement of the application of the regulation for all operators, until 30 December 2026, with an extra six-month cushion for micro and small operators.
The Council removed the ‘grace period’ initially proposed by the Commission for large and medium companies, opting instead for a clear extension of the application date for all operators, regardless of their size. The mandate maintains and adds on the simplification measures originally proposed by the Commission, focusing on reducing administrative burdens while preserving the objectives of the regulation.
Main elements of the Council position
The Council’s mandate has introduced a number of changes to the Commission’s proposal to further reduce the administrative burden on operators, particularly small and micro operators, and allow for a smooth implementation of the regulation.
Under the Council’s position:
- the provisions of the EUDR would apply from 30 December 2026 for medium and large operators and 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators
- the obligation and responsibility for submitting the required due diligence statement would fall exclusively on the operators who first place the product on the market
- downstream operators and traders would no longer have to submit separate due diligence statements, but only the first downstream operators must keep and pass on the reference number of the initial statement
- micro and small primary operators would submit only a one-off simplified declaration
The Council also tasked the European Commission with carrying out, by 30 April 2026, a simplification review assessing the EUDR’s impact and administrative burden on operators, particularly small and micro operators. Where appropriate, the review should be accompanied by a legislative proposal.
Next steps
On the basis of this mandate, the Council will start negotiations with the European Parliament in order to reach a final agreement in the coming weeks and before the current EUDR becomes applicable as of 30 December 2025.
Background
The regulation on deforestation-free products entered into force in June 2023 with the aim of ensuring that certain commodities, such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, and their derived products placed on or exported from the EU market have not caused deforestation or forest degradation.
Its main provisions were initially due to apply from 30 December 2024. Following concerns raised by member states, third countries, traders and operators about readiness, an initial one-year postponement was adopted in December 2024.
The new amendment, proposed by the Commission in October 2025, responds to continuing implementation challenges, in particular the need to ensure the effective functioning of the EU information system and to alleviate administrative burdens for smaller operators.
O artigo foi publicado originalmente em Conselho Europeu.
