European regulation against deforestation postponed

The European Commission has just made an important announcement concerning the implementation of the EU Regulation on Deforestation and Forest Degradation (EUDR). Originally scheduled for December 30, 2024, the compliance deadline for companies has now been extended by 12 months. This postponement gives the players concerned additional time to prepare for the requirements imposed by this new regulation.

Why the postponement?

The aim of the EUDR Regulation is clear: to combat deforestation caused by European supply chains. This initiative aims to ensure that products marketed in the European Union do not contribute to the destruction of forests worldwide. However, the complexity of implementing this regulation is significant, due to the diversity of sectors affected and the technical and logistical adjustments required.

The European Commission's decision to postpone the compliance date addresses these concerns. It allows companies to better prepare their supply chains, and to structure traceability data collection more effectively, thus ensuring robust and sustainable compliance. The extra time is also a recognition of the difficulties faced by players who must fundamentally transform their sourcing practices to comply with this ambitious regulation.

What are the implications for companies?

With this postponement, companies now have a further year to review their production chain and ensure that their sourcing is not linked to deforestation. Nevertheless, the challenge remains the same: the level of transparency required is unprecedented, and gathering concrete evidence of the sustainable provenance of raw materials is essential.

This postponement is an opportunity for all companies concerned to reinforce their traceability processes. Good anticipation remains essential to avoid being caught short at the end of this deadline. As a reminder, the EUDR requirements concern products such as palm oil, soy, wood, cocoa, coffee and certain derivatives.

To find out more about the requirements of the EUDR regulation and how to prepare your company, we invite you to consult our detailed article on the subject: European regulation against deforestation and forest degradation (EUDR).

Things to remember

The 12-month postponement of the implementation of the EUDR is an opportunity for companies to prepare optimally for this new regulation. Transparency on the origin of raw materials is now a key issue for all brands present on the European market. This measure is part of a global drive to combat deforestation, and its success depends on the commitment of all economic players.

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