The EUDR, or EU Deforestation Regulation, was supposed to force companies to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains. The law prohibits the import (or export) of raw materials and products on the European market unless they are deforestation-free, legally produced according to the legislation of the producing country, and are covered by a due diligence statement (DDS) in the EU information system.
Initially, the EUDR deadline for large companies was set for December 31, 2025. Medium-sized and smaller companies were given until June of this year. But this deadline has been postponed, the European Commission announced.
Why Has the EUDR Deadline Been Postponed?
The essence of the explanation from Brussels is remarkably consistent: companies and regulators were (still) not ready, and especially the practical implementation was struggling. The European Council explicitly mentions concerns about administrative burdens and the readiness of the IT system necessary for the functioning of the EUDR. Certainly, that second point is important.
Without a stable information system, companies cannot reliably submit their DDS, and authorities cannot enforce compliance. In the reporting around the second delay, risks of overload/bottlenecks in data processing leading up to the deadline were even highlighted.
Not Just a Delay: Also Simplifications
The latest amendment did not stop at "starting later." There were also substantive adjustments aimed at easing the administration, such as:
 
- Printed products (books, newspapers, etc.) have been removed from the scope, as the deforestation risk is considered relatively limited.
- The regulation shifts roles: "downstream operators" and downstream traders do not need to submit new due diligence statements in certain cases, but must still be able to provide/store reference numbers.
- The European Commission must also deliver a "simplification review" (report due by April 30, 2026).
In short: the EU is trying to buy time while also improving feasibility, without losing sight of the main goal (reducing the EU's contribution to global deforestation).
Time to Breathe, or Speed Up Now?
Delay feels like a relief, but strategically it is a pitfall to lean back. Two reasons:
First, the obligations have not disappeared. The core (traceability, risk assessment, DDS) remains intact. Additionally, supply chain work takes time. Geolocation, supplier data, contracts, IT connections, governance: you cannot sort that out in the last quarter. We previously provided a list of tips to meet the deadline, which is still relevant - the deadline is still there after all. Below we summarize the key points,
Practical Checklist: What You Can Do Now
Do you want to avoid EUDR becoming a last-minute crisis (with blocked goods, fines, and reputational damage)? Here are the steps you can take now:
1) Map Your Scope
Which products/raw materials do you buy, import, or process that fall under the EUDR? Which suppliers and countries are involved?
2) Set Up Your Data Flow (including Geolocation)
What data is still missing from suppliers?  How do you collect parcels/geolocation in a workable way? And who validates that information internally?
3) Design Your Due Diligence Process
EUDR is not a "PDF in the folder," but a process: identifying, assessing, mitigating, and documenting risks, plus submitting the declaration via the EU information system.
4) Make It a Supply Chain Project, Not a Compliance Silo
Procurement, legal, IT, sustainability, and logistics must work together. In practice, it helps to link EUDR to broader supply chain transparency and ESG goals. Baaz previously addressed this in the theme "sustainability regulations as a maze" ÔÇö and how organizations can still gain control over it.
5) Automate Where It Hurts
Especially with many suppliers or many SKUs, you do not want to keep circulating data via spreadsheets. Think of supply chain platforms, data hubs, and smart validation. (See also Baaz on sustainable supply chains with data and AI.)
The Content Remains
The EU has postponed the EUDR deadline by a year, to December 30, 2026 (with smaller parties often having until June 30, 2027). But the substantive bar remains: deforestation-free, legal, and demonstrable.
Those who take a pragmatic approach now by determining the scope, organizing data, setting up processes, and getting IT in order will turn EUDR into less "regulatory burden" and more supply chain advantage: better supplier relationships, fewer surprises, and a supply chain that is also more credible with customers and financiers.
