What is the latest opposition to EUDR delay: summary
- European Commission proposes delaying EUDR enforcement until December 2026
- Eight left-leaning MEPs oppose reopening law to delay enforcement again
- They argue Commission had a full year to fix IT systems
- Parliament now split, with growing resistance to further postponement
- Industry also divided, with major brands urging no more delays
In a nail-biting clash of opinions, the industry is closely watching lawmakers take sides on the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The European Commission is pushing to postpone the legislation, which aims to eliminate deforestation from EU supply chains, and has found support among some centre-right MEPs.
But now, opposition is mounting. And if the Commission is to get its way, it’s going to need to secure a majority.
Why delay EUDR, again?
Late last month, the Commission announced it wanted to postpone the EUDR by 12 months until December 2026. The groundbreaking legislation, which was first scheduled to be enforced in December 2024 but delayed until 2025, is now looking down the barrel of a two-year delay.
This time, the reasoning has shifted. While last year the concern was that industry wasn’t ready, now it seems the EU itself is unprepared.
In what’s been described by some as a modern-day version of ‘my dog ate my homework’, the Commission says the IT systems managing EUDR compliance aren’t ready. If the law were to push forward as planned, it’s feared the system could end up plagued with disruptions or make it harder for operators to comply with the law.
The fallout could be greater than that derailing the EUDR’s goals, says the Commission. It could even hinder trade flows.
Parliament fights against EUDR delay
For the EUDR to be delayed, the European Council and Parliament must also agree. That’s what happened last year, when MEPs voted 57.8% in favour of a 12-month postponement.
Early signs suggested parliamentary support for a second delay. But now, more MEPs are coming out of the woodwork to oppose the EUDR’s postponement. In a letter penned to the Commission, eight MEPs from largely Left, Green, or Socialist parties stress their “opposition to any re-opening of the law to further delay entry into application of the EUDR”.
They argue the Commission has had enough time to make its IT systems operational, including a “whole extra year” to finalise its systems following the initial 12-month delay.
Without reopening the law, parliamentarians urge the Commission to do three things: to ensure systems are fully operational by year’s end, develop contingency plans for ongoing technical issues, and update guidelines to help companies avoid system crashes.
Legal uncertainty detrimental to business
The Parliament finds itself fractured, with left-leaning politicians campaigning for 2025 enforcement, and others, like the centre-right-leaning European People’s Party (EPP), pushing for law simplification alongside a 12-month delay. In response to the delay proposal, EPP environment spokesperson Peter Liese said: “Our efforts have finally been successful.”
It’s not only lawmakers in disagreement. Industry players, too, are struggling to align. At least two major industry voices have called for another 12-month delay – Mondelez International and Lavazza – whereas others are campaigning for no change to the EUDR.
These include heavy hitters like Nestlé, Ferrero, Mars Wrigley and Olam Agri.
In a letter to the Commission, they stress what many agree should be undisputed: that legal uncertainty is detrimental to business. “We urge the European Commission to provide clarity on its intended next steps as soon as possible to avoid additional uncertainty.
“Companies need to know what to prepare for, and when.”
