As Table.Media reports, the EU regulation for deforestation-free supply chains (EUDR) will be applied one year later than originally planned, but its content will remain unchanged (trade-e-bility reported: Postpone and renegotiate EUDR). This was agreed by the negotiators from the EU Parliament and Council on 3 December 2024. Rapporteur Christine Schneider (EPP) was not able to push through her amendments - the final text remains unchanged from the EU Commission's original proposal.
Schneider merely obtained a political declaration from the Commission with no legally binding effect. In this commitment, the Commission promises to make the reporting obligations as streamlined as possible and to reduce the bureaucratic burden. It also promises to make the IT system and the risk categorisation of the producer countries available no later than six months before the rules come into force - a point that Schneider originally wanted to make binding in the law.
As part of the planned review of the regulation in 2028, the Commission will also examine measures for products from countries with good forest protection.
The trilogue agreement still needs to be formally confirmed by the Council and Parliament. A plenary vote in Parliament is planned for 16 to 19 December 2024. The Council has not yet set a date, but timely adoption before the previously planned start of the rules on 30 December 2024 is considered certain.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) welcomes the agreement, but warns: "The time gained must not be wasted now, the EU Commission must deliver. We need a practical, smooth implementation of the EUDR with little bureaucracy." The companies affected are also urged to use the time gained to implement EUDR compliance so that they do not face the same implementation problems again in a year's time.
Is your company affected by the EUDR? Take action now! Christopher Blauth and Jens Haasler will be happy to answer your questions on +49/40/750687-300 or beratung@trade-e-bility.de.
