EU member states endorse one-year delay to EUDR enforcement

EU member states have now officially agreed that companies should get an extra year to prepare before the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) comes into effect. The EUDR sets strict rules on supply chain traceability and sourcing transparency, requiring businesses to prove that imported or traded goods are not linked to deforestation.

The Danish Presidency of the EU Council first suggested this delay last week, saying that neither national authorities nor the EU’s IT systems were fully ready to handle the amount of data the law requires. Most EU governments supported the idea, and that support has now been written into the Council’s official negotiating mandate. 

This mandate empowers the Council to adopt a unified position in negotiations with the European Parliament and European Commission, where the final decision will be made.

If the plan proceeds, large and medium-sized companies will need to comply by December 30, 2026, while small and micro businesses will have until June 30, 2027. The next step is for the European Parliament to review and vote on the proposal, expected in December 2025.

Addressing system readiness

The EUDR, adopted in 2023, was originally scheduled to apply from December 2024. Its initial enforcement date was later postponed to December 2025 amid concerns that the EU’s central IT infrastructure and national competent authorities were not ready to manage the volume of expected transaction data.

The Council’s latest negotiating position acknowledges that both member states and businesses require additional preparation time. According to the Council document 14682/25 (available in the EU Council’s public register), larger operators would now be expected to comply by December 2026, while small and micro enterprises would have until June 2027.

The extension aims to ensure “a smooth and effective rollout of the system” while maintaining the EUDR’s environmental objectives.

Member state consensus

The negotiating mandate indicates broad support among member states for the extension. Countries including Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands have reportedly backed the compromise text proposed by the Danish Presidency of the Council, citing practical concerns over data system readiness and administrative workloads.

Although this position does not itself change the law, it empowers the Council to enter negotiations — known as “trilogues” — with the European Parliament and European Commission to finalize an amendment before the end of the year.

Next steps and implications

The European Parliament is expected to consider the proposal in December 2025. If the three institutions reach an agreement, the revised enforcement timeline would take effect shortly thereafter. Until then, the EUDR’s original legal deadlines technically remain in place.

Environmental groups have voiced frustration at the delay, warning that repeated extensions risk undermining the EU’s leadership on deforestation-free supply chains. In contrast, industry representatives and several national authorities view the extension as essential to ensure that enforcement mechanisms are credible and technically functional when the regulation takes effect.

Balancing ambition with capacity

The Council’s document emphasizes that the postponement does not alter the regulation’s core obligations or objectives but allows for “realistic implementation within existing administrative capacities.”

The outcome now depends on negotiations between the three EU institutions. If the Parliament aligns with the Council’s position, companies across supply chains will gain an additional year to adapt systems and verify compliance — providing more time for preparation and alignment, but also prolonging uncertainty over the regulation’s start date.