Preferred by Nature to Businesses: “Stay the Course” Despite EUDR Postponement

While the news may be welcomed by some and will disappoint others, Preferred by Nature urges that private enterprises with obligations under the regulation, and all those impacted by this regulation globally, maintain their focus on ensuring deforestation-free commodities and products within their supply chains.

Many enterprises have already begun efforts to align with the EUDR. Stakeholders globally are now dedicating significant resources to improving their operations, collecting better data and addressing deforestation risks within their commodity supply chains.

“These efforts made to date, to meet the requirements of the regulation, are not in vain. The extra twelve months will pass by quickly, so take advantage of the added time to better prepare and to implement the most robust solutions possible, in time for the regulation’s new deadlines.” 

David Hadley

Regulatory Impact Programme Director, Preferred by Nature

According to the European Commission, the proposed amendments - which will require approval by the Council as well as a vote in the European Parliament - will “allow Member States, exporting partner countries, operators and traders to be better prepared and for the latter, to fully establish the necessary due diligence systems covering all relevant commodities and products.”

If the proposal is passed, the regulation will apply to most businesses from 30 December 2025, and from 30 June 2026 for some small/microenterprises.

Unease around implementation timeframes

Preferred by Nature has been supportive of the European Commission’s efforts to address its contribution to deforestation. While no single action is sufficient to address a challenge as complex as agriculturally-driven deforestation, the adoption of the ambitious regulation in 2023 has served as a powerful piece in the jigsaw of measures that are necessary to address deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate change.

However, in some cases, the protracted timespan for updated Frequently Asked Questions and guidance to be made available, has frustrated companies’ ability to prepare. Additionally, there have also been strains caused by concerns that EUDR support systems, such as the Information System for uploading Due Diligence Statements, and Country Benchmarking, would not be ready within timeframes necessary to incorporate these into companies’ due diligence processes by end 2024.

“We understand that these requirements may have added unexpected pressure on some stakeholders, but there are plenty of examples showing that aligning with the requirements of EUDR is far from impossible. A short postponement may ensure that more stakeholders within and outside the EU will be ready, as of the enforcement date,” said David Hadley.

He advises that enterprises avoid redirecting or suspending the resources already budgeted or dedicated to preparing for the EUDR. Instead, they should continue efforts to engage with suppliers and supply chains to develop a deeper understanding of how they operate.  

“The urgency to tackle the climate crisis – and the ongoing destruction of our global forest resource which drives it – is only growing over time. Actions such as the elimination of deforestation from commodity supply chains now represent an essential minimum for businesses globally, if we are to meet the climate change ambitions set out by the Paris agreement,” said David Hadley.

>> Read the EC Proposal to postpone enforcement of the EU Deforestation Regulation here.
>> Read the full text of the EU Deforestation Regulation here.

For comment, please contact:

David Hadley, Regulatory Impact Programme Director
E: dhadley@preferredbynature.org 
P: +34 682 88 31 37