The European Parliament has voted in favour of a one-year delay to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The delay was approved by Parliament in a vote at the EU plenary at Strasbourg, France.
This comes after EU member states approved the delay last week, and a proposal to delay from the Commission last month.
The delay includes a ‘review clause’, allowing the text to be re-opened by the Commission, which will examine it and come back with a report by April 2026. This could mean that further simplifications may be added.
If the delay is implemented, it will mean that the EUDR comes into force on 30 December for larger companies next year instead of this year, and 30 June 2027 for smaller companies instead of the same date in 2026.
The delay would for all traders and operators. This is instead of the proposed six-month delay for smaller companies, and six-month grace period for larger ones.
“A one-year postponement for all companies, like the European Commission initially proposed, is essential to give authorities and operators the time needed to implement the rules properly,” says Christine Schneider, Parliament’s lead negotiator on the EUDR.
“We also insisted on relief measures for micro and small producers in low-risk countries to ensure proportionate application for farmers and foresters. This approach avoids unnecessary bureaucracy, supports responsible forest management, and strengthens the long-term effectiveness of the regulation.”
Whether or not the deal will go ahead or not is expected to be confirmed before Christmas, but given the Council and Parliament are now largely in agreement, it’s looking likely.
