EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): EU Parliament votes for simplification and postponement. What Changes for Companies.

What are the new deadlines for EUDR application?

The postponement approved by the European Parliament offers economic operators a crucial margin to adjust their compliance, traceability, and due diligence systems without the pressure of an imminent deadline, ensuring a more solid and effective implementation.

The new deadlines for the application of the regulation have been redefined as follows:

• Large operators and traders: December 30, 2026
• Micro and small enterprises: June 30, 2027

This postponement, however, is only half the story. The real operational change lies in the redefinition of who holds the responsibility for compliance, a move that significantly lightens the burden for a large part of the supply chain.

Who will have to submit the due diligence statement?

The simplification of due diligence obligations redesigns the chain of responsibility, concentrating burdens on the initial link of the import supply chain. This approach drastically reduces the administrative load for downstream operators, such as distributors and retailers, who will no longer have to duplicate declarations for products already placed on the market.

The main simplifications voted by the Parliament are two:

• Downstream operators: the burden of submitting the due diligence statement will fall exclusively on the company (e.g., the importer) that first introduces the product into the European Union market. Traders or distributors who subsequently purchase and resell such products will no longer be required to submit a new statement.
• Micro and small primary operators: for this category, it will be sufficient to submit a “simplified one-off statement”, minimizing periodic compliance duties.

• Exclusion of certain printed products (such as books, newspapers, and printed images) from the scope of the regulation in consideration of the limited deforestation risk associated with such items.

These modifications do not appear out of nowhere but formalize a political direction already outlined in previous months.

What changes compared to the October Commission proposal?

The Commission proposal of October 21, 2025 was born to address two critical challenges: the unforeseen load on the IT system and the need to reduce bureaucratic burdens for businesses.

The Parliament vote at the end of November 2025 officially adopted the simplifications on due diligence, incorporating them ahead of the final negotiations with Member States, but still voted for the one-year postponement.

Furthermore, companies should keep in mind an additional strategic deadline: the Parliament has requested a review of the simplification by April 30, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I still need to prepare for EUDR in practice?

Absolutely. The postponement does not cancel the obligations but offers more time to adjust traceability procedures and supply chain due diligence. Use this time to act without haste and implement robust systems.

I am a distributor purchasing from an EU importer. What changes for me?

The main burden of the due diligence statement shifts to the importer. However, you will still need to ensure that the products you market are covered by a valid statement and maintain internal traceability for control authorities.

Why was this postponement decided?

Mainly for two reasons: to ensure a smoother transition for businesses and to upgrade the European IT system, which must handle a much higher number of declarations than initially expected.