InfoSAWIT, BRUSSELS – European Commissioner for Environment, Jessika Roswall, announced on September 23, 2025, that the European Commission is considering a one-year delay to the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 2023/1115. The regulation, originally scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2025, for large and medium enterprises, and June 30, 2026, for small and micro enterprises, now potentially faces a postponement until the end of 2026.
Reported by InfoSAWIT from sustainabilityinbusiness.blog on Saturday (9/27/2025), Roswall made the announcement during a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. She stressed that the proposed delay is solely based on technical issues, specifically concerning the readiness of the EUDR Information System, which serves as the central hub for the registration and management of the Due Diligence Statement (DDS) for operators.
According to the Commission's latest projections, the sheer volume of incoming interactions from operators risks overburdening the system, leading to extreme slowdowns or even prolonged disruptions. This condition is feared to hinder companies from registering, uploading their DDS, or accessing critical information, thereby potentially disrupting the smooth trade of commodities regulated by the EUDR.
However, the Commission has so far only sent an informal letter to the Council and the European Parliament. No official proposal has been submitted yet, meaning the EUDR obligations currently remain according to the original schedule.
Roswall also dismissed speculation that the delay is related to the latest EU-US trade agreements or negotiations with partner countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, or Japan. She maintained that the reason for the delay is purely technical to minimize the risk of operational failure.
Next Steps Following the letter, the Commission will discuss with the Council and the European Parliament to determine the next steps. Besides the option of postponement, the possibility of simplifying or adjusting the regulation may also be discussed, although Roswall emphasized it is still too early to confirm.
Similar to last year, when the Commission proposed a first delay in October 2024 which was then approved just days before the rule took effect, the legislative process this time also has the potential to be fast but full of uncertainty.
Until an official decision is made, operators are still required to prepare for compliance according to the initial deadlines. Observers suggest that, besides the timeline, the revision might also touch upon technical implementation, including the possible emergence of a new category such as "zero-risk." (T2)
