EBA experts welcome the postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

28/ 11/ 2025

On 26 November 2025, the European Parliament backed measures to simplify the EU law aimed at preventing deforestation (EUDR). This will make its implementation easier for businesses, in particular due to the postponement of its entry-into-force deadlines, the simplification of due-diligence procedures, and the reduction of administrative burdens, while maintaining environmental objectives. Thus, government agencies and companies will have an additional year to prepare for the new EU rules on preventing deforestation. Large operators and traders will now have to comply with the regulation’s requirements from 30 December 2026, while micro and small enterprises will do so from 30 June 2027. This extra time is intended to ensure a smooth transition and to allow for the introduction of measures to strengthen the IT system used by operators, traders, and their representatives to submit electronic due-diligence statements. The new rules directly affect Ukrainian exporters targeting the European market. That is why, in the view of businesses, the postponement of the regulation will help ensure stable exports of finished products, given the export-oriented nature of Ukraine’s wood-processing and agricultural sectors. Business representatives hope that the postponement will allow the responsible Ukrainian government bodies, in due time and in coordination with the business community, to develop all the necessary measures and software for Ukrainian exporters of the relevant products. More details on the European Parliament’s decision are available via the link. Reminder: Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 aims to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation linked to the EU’s consumption of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, timber, rubber, charcoal, printed paper, and cattle products. Under the Regulation, any operator or trader placing products on the EU market or exporting them must prove that these products do not originate from recently deforested areas and do not result in forest degradation. The European Commission has included Ukraine in the list of low-risk countries under the EUDR – https://new.eba.com.ua/en/yevrokomisiya-vklyuchyla-ukrayinu-do-spysku-krayin-z-nyzkym-ryzykom-za-reglamentom-eudr/

Thus, government agencies and companies will have an additional year to prepare for the new EU rules on preventing deforestation. Large operators and traders will now have to comply with the regulation’s requirements from 30 December 2026, while micro and small enterprises will do so from 30 June 2027. This extra time is intended to ensure a smooth transition and to allow for the introduction of measures to strengthen the IT system used by operators, traders, and their representatives to submit electronic due-diligence statements.

The new rules directly affect Ukrainian exporters targeting the European market. That is why, in the view of businesses, the postponement of the regulation will help ensure stable exports of finished products, given the export-oriented nature of Ukraine’s wood-processing and agricultural sectors.

Business representatives hope that the postponement will allow the responsible Ukrainian government bodies, in due time and in coordination with the business community, to develop all the necessary measures and software for Ukrainian exporters of the relevant products.

More details on the European Parliament’s decision are available via the link.

Reminder:

Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 aims to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation linked to the EU’s consumption of cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, timber, rubber, charcoal, printed paper, and cattle products. Under the Regulation, any operator or trader placing products on the EU market or exporting them must prove that these products do not originate from recently deforested areas and do not result in forest degradation.

The European Commission has included Ukraine in the list of low-risk countries under the EUDR – https://new.eba.com.ua/en/yevrokomisiya-vklyuchyla-ukrayinu-do-spysku-krayin-z-nyzkym-ryzykom-za-reglamentom-eudr/