The European Parliament has approved a proposal to reduce due diligence requirements for businesses under the EU\u2019s anti-deforestation law, after ongoing pressure from industry groups and non-EU countries. The law, originally scheduled to take effect on 30 December 2024, has already been delayed twice and may now be postponed until late 2026.<\/p>\n
The latest delay follows a reported IT system glitch that would have hindered compliance monitoring. Lawmakers have supported measures to reduce the administrative burden, particularly for small and micro operators. These businesses would no longer need to submit full due diligence statements; instead, they would provide a one-off declaration in the IT system, which can be submitted via member state authorities or cooperatives. Downstream operators, such as chocolate manufacturers or supermarkets, would no longer need to create their own statements but must retain and pass along statements received from importers.<\/p>\n
Discussions among EU governments continue. A key point of debate is the inclusion of a revision clause, with most member states backing the delay to 2026 but some calling for further simplification measures. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the law during the 24\u201327 November plenary session in Strasbourg.<\/p>\n
The European Commission\u2019s draft reduces IT system data loads and aims to lighten obligations for small operators importing products from low-risk countries. While a formal start date has not yet been set, the law\u2019s enforcement could be postponed until the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
The current process allows small farmers, foresters, and other micro-operators to liaise with member state authorities or cooperatives to submit registration forms on their behalf. For larger operators, the Commission has maintained the requirement to provide due diligence evidence to downstream operators, but full reporting obligations are relaxed.<\/p>\n
The European Parliament is prioritizing a vote before the end of November to finalize the simplified rules, ensuring the regulation\u2019s entry into force is aligned with technical feasibility and administrative capacity.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The European Parliament has approved a proposal to reduce due diligence requirements for businesses under the EU\u2019s anti-deforestation law, after ongoing pressure from industry groups and non-EU countries. The law, originally scheduled to take effect on 30 December 2024, has … Continue reading