The Commission publishes a simplification analysis of the EU Regulation on deforestation

The Commission has published a report on the simplification ofthe revised EU Deforestation Regulation(EUDR)and a set of additional measuresto ensure its smooth and effective implementation, following the agreement reached by the co-legislators last December. These measures will provide greater clarity for economic operators, Member States, third countries and other stakeholders, whilst ensuring legal certainty and predictability. With this package of measures, the Commission is fulfilling its commitment to the European Parliament and the Council to carry out a review to simplify the revised Regulation and is preparing for its entry into force later this year.

The measures include areportto the European Parliament and the Council, anupdated guidance documentand afrequently asked questions section, as well as adraft delegated acton the scope of the EUDR Regulation. In addition, the Commission is presenting Member States with an updated implementing act on the Information System.

Thereport to the European Parliament and the Councildescribes the simplification measures implemented since the entry into force of the EU Commodities Regulation in June 2023, as well as those introduced in the current package. Taken together, these measures will result in a substantial reduction in the administrative burden. They are expected to reduce annual compliance costs for businesses subject to the obligations of the EU Regulation by approximately 75%, compared to the original Regulation. It also presents the tools envisaged to facilitate trade, such as repositories of legislation from producer countries and commodity certification schemes covered by the EU Regulation, to facilitate risk assessment and due diligence. Furthermore, the report shows that the EU Regulation is already contributing to structural changes in global supply chains, with increased investment in traceability and transparency, which promotes more sustainable and competitive production practices.

Theupdatedguidance documentandFAQsaddress the issues most frequently raised by stakeholders. Both documents clarify the obligations of the downstream supply chain and the specific, greatly simplified regime applicable to micro-operators and small primary operators. Explanations are provided on issues such as e-commerce and geolocation methods. Theupdated infographic on the EU Supply Chain Regulationalso provides practical, user-friendly examples illustrating the various supply chain scenarios. These documents have been extensively discussed with Member States to ensure harmonised application of the law across the EU.

Thedraft delegated actincorporates specific amendments tothe scope of the EU Products Regulation. It updates last year’s draft delegated act and incorporates comments from stakeholders during the consultation phase. The draft includes proposals to add certain derived products, such as instant coffee and some palm oil derivatives. It also proposes several exclusions from the scope of application, such as leather or retreaded tyres, as well as exemptions, such as product samples, certain packaging materials, used and second-hand products, and waste. The draft delegated act is open for public comment until 1 June 2026.

In parallel, the Commission is updating theInformation Systemto reflect the changes introduced by the revised Regulation and to improve its usability. Theupdated draft implementing act for the Information Systemwillnow be submitted to the Member Statesprior to its adoption. The main new features will include a simplified declaration form for micro-operators and small primary operators, adapted to the format of the current due diligence declaration; updated specifications for the interfaces of automated applications; a contingency plan for cases of unexpected unavailability; and a voluntary grouping function introduced in response to requests from the business sector.

The Commission is also working closely with Member States to leverage the information available in national databases and incorporate it directly into the Information System, with a view to helping businesses comply with their obligations under the EU Consumer Products Regulation. This is expected to help further reduce the burden on micro-operators and small primary operators.

The Commission is focusing on facilitating implementation and ensuring the successful entry into force of the legislation by 30 December 2026.

Background

TheEU Deforestation Regulationaims to ensure that key products traded in the EU do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, both within the EU and globally, as these are among the main factors contributing to climate change and biodiversity loss. The main driver of deforestation is the expansion of agricultural land linked to the production of seven commodities covered by the regulation: cattle, timber, cocoa, soya, palm oil, coffee, rubber and some of their derivatives.

Under the Regulation, any operator or trader placing these commodities on the EU market, or exporting them from it, must be able to demonstrate that the products do not originate from recently deforested land and have not contributed to forest degradation.

In December 2025, the European Parliament and the Counciladopted the revised text of the EU Timber Regulation, providing the legal certainty necessary for its proper implementation. The Regulation will apply from 30 December 2026 to large and medium-sized enterprises, as well as to micro and small enterprises in the timber sector, and from 30 June 2027 to other micro and small enterprises.

Even before it enters into force, the Regulation has already driven positive changes in both the public and private sectors, bringing greater transparency to supply chains and opening up new market opportunities for deforestation-free products.

More information: European Commission.