EU Council and Parliament Agree on EUDR Simplification and Extended Implementation Timeline

The EU Council presidency and European Parliament representatives have reached a provisional political agreement on a targeted revision of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aimed at simplifying implementation and postponing application to allow adequate preparation. The revised framework extends the implementation deadline to December 30, 2026, for all operators, with an additional six-month grace period for micro and small operators. Key simplifications include streamlining due diligence responsibilities—only the first operator placing products on the market must submit due diligence statements; removing printed products like books and newspapers from scope; and clarifying that micro and small operators submit one-time simplified declarations. The agreement removes the proposed grace period for large and medium companies while maintaining regulatory objectives. Printed products have been excluded due to minimal deforestation risk. Both institutions require the Commission to present a comprehensive simplification review by April 30, 2026, assessing impact on smaller operators and recommending further improvements, potentially through legislative proposals. The agreement must be formally adopted by both institutions before entering into force, replacing the current EUDR applicable since December 30, 2025.​