REGULATION ON DEFORESTATION AND FOREST
DEGRADATION-FEE SUPPLY CHAINS
COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
The following communication, dated 29 October 2025,
is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the European Union.
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1._
The EU introduced
in 2023 Regulation (EU) 2023/1115
on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of
certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest
degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2020 ("the Deforestation
Regulation"). The Deforestation Regulation aims to limit EU's contribution
to global deforestation, as one of the biggest consumer and producer market of
the commodities that are known to contribute to forest degradation and
deforestation the most.
2._ In line with the EU's ongoing efforts to engage with Members on and
to facilitate the transparent and inclusive development of the EU's
environmental policy, the EU would like to inform Members that on 21 October 2025,
the European Commission adopted a proposal
(COM(2025)652) amending the Deforestation Regulation as
regards certain obligations of operators and traders.
3._
The proposal
includes targeted solutions to support companies, global stakeholders, third
countries and Member States to ensure a smooth and more gradual implementation of
the Deforestation Regulation. The proposal will simplify the reporting
obligations while maintaining a robust tracking mechanism.
4._
Taking into
account feedback from stakeholders in the context of the European Commission's
simplification efforts throughout the year, the European Commission proposal
introduces meaningful simplifications to reduce obligations for
(i)_
Operators and traders that
commercialise the relevant European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
products once they have been placed on the EU market. These can be, for
example, retailers or large manufacturing companies. These companies are in the
downstream part of the relevant value chains. The upstream operator, i.e. the
first operator placing on the EU market a relevant product, will continue
to exercise due diligence,
(ii)_
Micro and small primary
operators from low-risk countries who sell their goods directly on the European
market.
5._
The Commission is also
proposing transitional periods to guarantee a smooth transition and strengthen
the IT system. Concretely this means that the EUDR will enter into application
on 30 December 2026 for micro- and small enterprises. For large and
medium companies, the date remains 30 December 2025 but to ensure a
gradual phase-in of the rules, they will benefit from a grace period of six
months for checks and enforcement.
6._
The proposal preserves the
non-discriminatory character of the Regulation.
7._
The Deforestation
Regulation is a key EU initiative to fight deforestation. The European
Commission remains fully committed to pursuing its objective to address the EU's
contribution to the global challenge of deforestation.
8._
The EU will continue to
inform Members in a timely manner about any upcoming development regarding the
implementation of the Deforestation Regulation.
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