Day December 4, 2025 The EU Council and the European Parliament announced a provisional political agreement on a targeted revision of the Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR). The new compromise aims to facilitating the practical implementation of the regulations, reducing administrative burdens and giving companies and administrations more time to prepare for full compliance.
This decision is a response to numerous signals from Member States, industry and trade organisations, which pointed to technical difficulties, lack of readiness of IT systems and risks related to the sudden entry into force of the regulation.
The most important changes introduced under the agreement
1. Extension of the deadline for application of the provisions
The co-legislators departed from the earlier proposals for the grace period and clearly established new deadlines:
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December 30, 2026 – new date of application of the EUDR for all operators,
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+6 months – additional transition period for micro and small enterprises.
This significant shift gives companies real time to adapt processes, build reporting systems and ensure full supply chain traceability.
2. Simplification of the due diligence procedure
The new agreement provides significant relief for companies by:
a. One responsible operator
The obligation to submit a due diligence declaration rests solely with the first operator to introduce the product to the EU market.
Operators further down the supply chain will only need to keep the reference number original declaration – without the need for re-reporting.
b. Simplified declaration for small and micro operators
These entities will submit one-time declaration, will receive an individual identifier and will not be obliged to report multiple times.
3. Removal of selected products from the EUDR scope
Due to low risk of deforestation, the following have been excluded:
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books,
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newspapers,
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prints and graphic materials.
This decision significantly reduces the administrative burden on the printing and publishing industry.
4. Enhanced cooperation with experts and supervision of the IT system
It was established that:
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consultations with industry, experts and NGOs will continue within the existing Commission platform,
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National authorities must report technical issues with the European Information System (EUDR IT System) to the Commission to improve its operation with minimal burden on businesses.
5. Review of simplifications by 30 April 2026
The European Commission was obliged to prepare:
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review of the impact of regulations and administrative burdens,
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recommendations for further simplifications,
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and if necessary – legislative proposal.
This is a key signal for the market: EUDR will evolve and adapt to technical realities and company capabilities.
Why is this agreement so important?
The EUDR is one of the most ambitious global environmental regulations, covering, among others:
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coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, rubber, timber, cattle,
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and a wide range of derived products.
Companies are expected to ensure full traceability of the origin of raw materials up to geolocation of the production plotThe new changes mean:
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realistic timeframe for adapting systems,
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reducing compliance costs,
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higher regulatory stability for supply chains,
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greater chances of correct implementation of the IT system, which is the foundation of the EUDR.
Co dalej?
The agreement must be reached now formally approved and adopted by the European Parliament and the Council before replacing the current version of the EUDR.
One thing is certain – the political direction has been clearly defined:
Implementing such a complex system requires time, cooperation and a gradual approach.
The new agreement gives companies the chance to prepare responsibly, without risking disruption to supply chains.
