The European Commission (EC) has announced it is considering delaying the introduction of the EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) by another year, citing concerns that the IT system may not be ready in time to cope with the amount of data it will be asked to handle. This change will still need to be confirmed and put through the formal adoption procedure before becoming official.
The EUDR aims to ensure that any products being placed on EU markets will not contribute to deforestation and global forest degradation. This will impact commodities such as timber, cocoa, cattle, palm oil, rubber, soy and coffee, and will require any trader or operator who brings these items to the EU market to prove that they do not originate from deforested land or have contributed to the degradation of forests.
The regulation has been in force since 29 June 2023 and was previously set to be applied from 30 December, 2024, but was ultimately postponed until 30 December, 2025 for large companies, and until June 2026 for micro- and small enterprises. If this latest delay is implemented, these dates will be pushed back by a further 12 months.
Despite this potential delay surrounding the EUDR, it is important to remember that UK companies are still required to comply with the UK Timber Regulation (UKTR). This applies to all timber placed on the UK market, including from the EU, and regardless of origin. It is being actively enforced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), which continues to support UK businesses with guidance on compliance. While the EUDR carries a broader scope and may introduce additional requirements in the future, one thing remains clear in the UK: businesses are already working hard under the UKTR framework, continuously strengthening due diligence and taking real action to combat illegal logging.
Timber Development UK (TDUK) operates its own Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP), a third-party audited system that ensures all our members’ goods are legal and sustainably sourced in line with both the EUTR and UKTR. This accounts for more than 85% of all timber goods entering the UK.
David Hopkins, CEO of TDUK, said: “While we continue to fully support the aims and objectives of the EUDR, this latest delay is deeply frustrating for everyone in the timber industry who has been working hard to prepare for its implementation.
“There is a lot of industry and NGO goodwill behind the idea of regulating multiple commodities in the same way as has been done with timber. But there seems to have been little thought about the practical implications and very little political goodwill.
“There also seems to be very little understanding about the industries involved, how these markets work or how complex they are. A one-size-fits-all data gathering system may well not be the most practical solution when you’re dealing with a lot of different sectors. This delay may force a rethink focusing on the original aims and objectives, but with a greater understanding of how supply chains and markets currently operate. I hope we get a meaningful outcome soon.”
