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The European Commission has published additional guidance documents and a stronger international cooperation framework to support global stakeholders, Member States and third countries in their preparations for the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. Notably, it also proposes to give concerned parties additional time to prepare.
If approved by the European Parliament and the Council, it would make the law applicable on 30th December 2025 for large companies and 30th June 2026 for micro- and small enterprises.
"Given the EUDR's novel character, the swift calendar, and the variety of international stakeholders involved, the Commission considers that a 12-month additional time to phase in the system is a balanced solution to support operators around the world in securing a smooth implementation from the start," the Commission commented. "With this step, the Commission aims to provide certainty about the way forward and to ensure the success of the EUDR, which is paramount to address the EU's contribution to the pressing global issue of deforestation. The extension proposal in no way puts into question the objectives or the substance of the law, as agreed by the EU co-legislators."
The guidance documents presented make good on the Commission's commitment to provide a reference of the recent collaborative efforts, involving stakeholders and competent authorities, to help ensure uniform interpretation of the law.
Key areas covered include details on the functionalities of the Information System, updates on penalties, and clarifications on critical definitions such as ‘forest degradation', ‘operator' in the scope of the law, and ‘placing on the market'. There is also further guidance on traceability obligations.
The guidance is divided into 11 chapters covering a diverse range of issues such as legality requirements, time frame of application, agricultural use, and clarifications on the product scope. These are supported by tangible scenarios. In addition, the latest FAQ, features over 40 additional answers to address questions raised by a diverse range of stakeholders globally.
The EU Deforestation Regulation aims to ensure that a set of key goods placed on the EU market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world.
For more detailed information, and to access the guidance documents, visit the European Commission website.
