Eu’s landmark anti-deforestation law faces second consecutive year-long delay

The European Union has officially postponed its groundbreaking anti-deforestation regulation (EUDR) for the second year running, dealing another blow to global forest protection efforts. The delay was formalized in the EU’s Official Journal on December 23, 2025, pushing back implementation of one of the world’s most ambitious environmental trade policies.

The EUDR represents a sweeping attempt to tackle global deforestation by banning imports of seven key commodities—cocoa, coffee, soy, beef, timber, palm oil, and rubber—sourced from areas deforested after December 2020. Under the law, producers must provide precise geolocation data proving their products don’t originate from recently cleared forestland. Originally approved in 2023 with a planned 2024 start date, the regulation has faced mounting pressure from industry lobbyists, producers, and various governments seeking exemptions and delays.

The latest postponement means large operators won’t need to comply until December 31, 2026, while smaller businesses have until mid-2027. Perhaps more concerning for environmental advocates, EU politicians have scheduled a revision period for April 2026, potentially opening the door to further delays or weakening of the law’s requirements. The current delay stems partly from the European Commission’s admission that its IT systems aren’t ready to handle the regulation’s complex tracking requirements, highlighting the technical challenges of monitoring global supply chains for deforestation compliance.