EU Commission Reschedules the Start of the EUDR
The EU Deforestation Regulation was due to come into force on December 30, 2024. It has now been postponed by one year.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is intended to combat global deforestation and ensure the protection of forests.
Companies must ensure their supply chains are deforestation-free and comply with local environmental standards. This includes audits of production sites and the assessment of deforestation risks.
The EUDR was adopted by the EU Commission to enhance the protection of our natural environment. Large companies originally had until the end of this year to adapt to this new regulation. Small and medium-sized enterprises would have had to follow six months later.
This tight timeframe not only raised concerns among industry representatives, but was also criticized by some EU member states. They expressed concerns about possible delays and the limited resources available for implementing the EUDR. The EU Commission has now relented and proposed rescheduling the implementation deadline by one year. On November 14, 2024, the EU Parliament approved this amendment.
Here are the most important points for companies on how to proceed:
- The implementation deadline will be extended to December 30, 2025 for large companies and June 30, 2026 for small and medium-sized enterprises
- The EU information system for registering due diligence statements will be available for registration from November 2024 and fully operational from December
- Companies and traders can submit their due diligence statements before the regulation comes into force
- A benchmarking system will be introduced that ranks countries by deforestation risk to make it easier for companies to comply with due diligence and support compliance monitoring
- A category of “low-risk countries” is to be introduced to which less stringent rules will apply
By rescheduling the EUDR, the EU Commission is creating additional space for companies and authorities to fully adapt to the new requirements. However, environmentalists also voiced harsh criticism.
Although the concerns of industry representatives and authorities have been taken into account, the central objective of the EUDR — the protection of forests — must remain the focus. The continued existence of the environment, biodiversity and natural habitats is essential for a healthy future and is in the interests of all inhabitants of our planet.
Find out more about the requirements and effects of the EU Deforestation Regulation here: EUDR Compliance System
There you will find comprehensive information on how to prepare your company for the new regulations.