EU Deforestation Regulation: another delay on the horizon?

The reason? The IT system that should register product origin is not yet ready to handle the expected volume. According to EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, the central platform is not scalable enough: “The system risks becoming so slow that it will be unusable.” In response, the Commission has proposed pushing back the deadline from 30 December 2025 to the end of 2026.

International pressure and internal division

This would be the second postponement of the EUDR. The law was already delayed in 2024 to give companies more preparation time.

Now, technical issues are joined by political and economic challenges:

• Global trading partners such as the US, Japan and Indonesia criticise the law as a trade barrier.
• Within the EU, 18 agriculture ministers – including from Poland and Austria – are calling for exemptions. Some countries are even lobbying for a “zero-risk” category, which would relax reporting rules for specific regions.
  

Businesses divided, NGOs concerned

• Multinationals such as Nestlé and Ferrero want the rules in place quickly to gain clarity.
• Other companies demand more time due to the law’s complexity and technical requirements.
• Environmental NGOs like WWF and Greenpeace call the delay “disappointing”, warning that political and economic concerns are overshadowing biodiversity protection. “Every delay means more deforestation,” says a WWF spokesperson.

What’s next?

The postponement proposal still needs approval from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the next steps.

Despite the uncertainty, the Commission insists that the ultimate goal remains unchanged: deforestation-free supply chains in Europe.