The European Union’s anti-deforestation laws were scheduled to go into effect at the end of 2025 for large businesses and the end of June 2026 for smaller operations. The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) would fine any company importing commodities into the EU, like coffee, that cannot be verified as not being linked to deforestation. The law has already been met with widespread criticism from both producers and buyers, arguing that the law, while well intentioned, would have a significant impact on small holder farmers, many of whom lack the resources or infrastructure to meet the new standards.
Originally passed in 2022, the law’s implementation date had already been moved back a year in order to give growers more time to implement the new systems. And now, it may be postponed another year.
As reported by Reccessary, the European Parliament voted at the end of last month on another delay on the EUDR. It passed by a vote of 402 to 250, pushing back the start dates to December 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027. Along with the postponement, the vote amended the original law, including the removal of printed books and newspapers from the scope, which many are claiming to be a direct benefit to the forestry industry.
A joint statement that included coffee businesses like Nestle, Vocal Coffee Alliance, Danone, and the Rainforest Alliance stated that another delay would “create market uncertainty and instability.”
After the successful vote, the proposed revisions and delay will now go through a round of informal negotiations among the EU’s three branches of government before being returned to parliament for ratification.
But all signs are pointing to another year delay for the EUDR, and it shows how incredibly complex these issues are. There’s no one size fits all answer even with the coffee sector, never mind trying to find one that functions for rubber, cacao, beef, soy, etc. as well. Not doing anything doesn’t seem like a viable solution either. Companies are short sighted and will buy cheap when given the option. So the question remains, and currently, the EUDR is the best answer.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
