The European Parliament has voted to approve a package of simplification measures for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), including a one-year delay for all companies and reduced due diligence obligations for smaller operators. The vote marks a significant shift in the bloc’s implementation timeline, aimed at easing administrative pressure on businesses while maintaining the law’s environmental objectives [1][2].

Under Parliament’s position, large operators and traders will now be required to comply from 30 December 2026, with micro and small enterprises given until 30 June 2027, a universal extension designed to support a “smooth transition” and accommodate ongoing upgrades to the EUDR’s IT system for electronic due diligence statements [1][2].

MEPs also endorsed changes that narrow the scope of reporting responsibilities. Under the revised approach, only the businesses first placing goods on the EU market will need to submit due diligence statements, relieving downstream operators and traders of this obligation [1][2]. Micro and small primary operators would file only a one-off simplified declaration, further reducing compliance burdens.

Parliament additionally called for a simplification review by 30 April 2026 to assess administrative impacts and consider whether further adjustments are warranted, though NGOs have cautioned that repeated simplifications could dilute enforcement over time [1][2].

The legislative text passed with 402 votes in favour, 250 against and eight abstentions, positioning Parliament to begin negotiations with the Council on the final law. For the new delay to take effect, the regulation must be agreed by co-legislators and published in the EU’s Official Journal before the end of 2025 [1][2].

The EUDR, adopted in 2023, seeks to curb EU-driven deforestation linked to commodities such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, rubber, cattle products, charcoal and printed paper. Globally, 420 million hectares of forest were lost between 1990 and 2020, with EU consumption responsible for around 10 per cent of deforestation, primarily linked to palm oil and soya [1][2].

References

[1] ESG Post – European Parliament backs simplified deforestation rules
https://esgpost.com/european-parliament-backs-simplified-deforestation-rules/

[2] European Parliament – EU deforestation law: Parliament supports simplification measures
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20251120IPR31498/eu-deforestation-law-parliament-supports-simplification-measures