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CLECAT welcomes the provisional political agreement reached by the Council and European Parliament on the targeted revision of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The deal responds to widespread concerns from member states, industry and third countries about the readiness of companies and authorities, as well as challenges linked to the EU’s new information system.

The co-legislators agreed to extend the EUDR application date for traders of goods subject to EUDR ( called operators in the legislation) to 30 December 2026, with an additional six months for micro and small companies. They supported the Commission’s proposals to simplify due diligence requirements, aiming to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining the regulation’s objectives.

A key change is that only the first operator placing products on the EU market will be responsible for submitting the due diligence statement. The first downstream operator will merely retain the reference number, avoiding the need to pass it further along the supply chain. For micro and small primary operators, a one-time simplified declaration will suffice for traceability.

The agreement also removes certain printed products from the scope of the regulation, acknowledging their limited link to deforestation. Both institutions emphasised the importance of ongoing engagement with stakeholders and ensuring competent authorities report major IT disruptions to support smooth implementation.

The Commission must now conduct a simplification review and present a report by April 2026, including potential legislative proposals. The provisional deal will enter into force once formally adopted by both institutions.