Once formally adopted, the law will become applicable on 30 December 2025 for large companies and 30 June 2026 for micro- and small enterprises (this clause does not apply to the timber sector). This will allow third countries, Member States, operators and traders an extra year to prepare for the implementation of the Regulation.

Given the EUDR’s novel character, the swift calendar, and the variety of international stakeholders involved, 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. This is essential to guarantee certainty about the way forward and to ensure the success of the EUDR.

In the meantime, the Commission will continue providing further clarifications on the legislation and explore additional simplifications, in full compliance with the objectives of the Regulation, through updates of the guidelines and the frequently asked questions document.

The Commission proposal was part of a broader package of support measures released on 2 October including 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. The Commission aims to finalise the country benchmarking system as soon as possible but no later than 30 June 2025, in dialogue with most concerned countries. The Information System where businesses will register their due diligence statements will enter into operation on 4 December.

Next steps

The European Parliament and the Council will now formally have to adopt the targeted amendment of the EU Deforestation Regulation before it can come into effect.

• • Press Release of the EU Council