The European Union (EU) decided to postpone the full application of the rules that require all products placed on the European market to be deforestation-free, extending the deadline until the end of 2026, with the possibility of an additional extension of six months. The decision was announced by the Council of the EU and comes at a time when companies, Member States and economic operators are still facing difficulties in adapting to new requirements.
The political objective remains unchanged. Brussels wants to continue to remove products from the internal market whose production is associated with the destruction of forests, both inside and outside the European Union. The postponement does not represent a retreat in the environmental strategy, but rather an attempt to make its application more feasible.
A postponement to save time
According to the Council of the European Union, the new deadline is December 30, 2026, allowing Member States and companies more time to implement the control and traceability mechanisms required by the regulation. According to the institution, this is a way of “simplifying the implementation” of the rules and avoiding failures in a system considered complex, especially for small and medium-sized companies.
The same source recognizes that many operators still do not have the necessary technical and administrative tools to fully comply with the requirements, which include identifying the exact origin of the products and proving that they do not result from deforestation practices.
In addition to the main postponement, the EU Council foresees an additional cushion of six months, designed mainly for smaller operators. This extension may be triggered if it is confirmed that a significant part of the business sector continues to be unable to comply with the obligations imposed by the regulation.
According to the same institution, the intention is to avoid distortions in the internal market and prevent small companies from being disproportionately penalized, without compromising the fundamental environmental objective.
What products are in question
The European regulation covers raw materials and products associated with value chains with a high risk of deforestation, such as wood, soy, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, rubber and beef, as well as various processed products.
However, in this review, books and newspapers were excluded from the scope of the rules. According to the Council’s statement, studies carried out have shown that the environmental impact of these products and their direct link to deforestation are residual, not justifying their inclusion in the more demanding regime.
The environmental commitment remains
Despite the postponement, he underlines that the political goal remains intact. The European bloc maintains its intention to prevent the internal market from being a destination for products resulting from deforestation, adopting this measure as a central part of its climate and biodiversity protection strategy.
According to the institution, the postponement does not change the content of the regulation or the defined environmental criteria, functioning only as a calendar adjustment to ensure a more effective and homogeneous application in all Member States.
What changes for companies and consumers
For companies, the new deadline represents an opportunity to strengthen traceability systems, review supply chains and adapt internal procedures without the immediate pressure of sanctions. For consumers, the impact will be less visible in the short term, but the EU believes the end result will be a more transparent market aligned with global environmental goals.
According to the Council of the European Union, the priority is to ensure that, when the rules come into full force, they are enforceable, verifiable and fair, avoiding both greenwashing and unnecessary blocks to legitimate trade.
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