Seventeen organizations, including Bioenergy Europe, are urging the European Commission to simplify the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). They warn that the current rules undermine sustainable supply chains through unnecessary administrative burdens and legal uncertainties.
The EUDR entered into force in June 2023 and focuses on seven commodities, such as timber, soy, and oil palm, to combat global deforestation. In December 2024, the start of compliance was postponed, for larger companies to December 30, 2025, and for smaller companies to June 2026. This postponement allowed for further discussion, which now leads to this call.
Although the European Commission has already published guidelines and an FAQ page, these are not binding and are subject to varying interpretations in member states. The organizations therefore advocate for amendments to the regulations themselves, preferably through the 2025 Omnibus package. They want a proportionate implementation based on risk analysis, without weakening climate and biodiversity objectives.
Broad support from various sectors
The joint letter was signed by prominent representatives of farmers and foresters, wood product producers, animal feed manufacturers, and agri-cooperatives. Names like Copa-Cogeca and the Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF) are prominently featured. They advocate for a practical, risk-based approach that suits their activities.
At the same time, agriculture ministers from eighteen member states sent a letter to the Commission. They are again urging a later implementation date and exceptions for regions with virtually no risk of deforestation. Critics, including NGOs, warn that this weakens the law and undermines the EU's credibility.
Biomass hit extra hard
Bioenergy Europe points out that wood pellets and other bio-based feedstocks are often considered high-risk products. For the sector, the EUDR imposes complex due diligence requirements. The current implementation places technological and financial pressure on companies already investing in sustainable systems.
The signatories are calling for, among other things, simple rules for transport and traceability, group declarations and annual reporting instead of per shipment, and a risk-based approach with exceptions for raw materials from low-risk areas.
The European Commission promises to reduce administrative burdens by 30 percent through new supporting documents and decisions. But according to industry organizations, only legal adjustments offer true certainty.
The Commission has included the EUDR in its simplification agenda for 2025. The Omnibus package could be discussed in early 2026. Until then, sectors and Member States will continue to discuss feasible adjustments. This creates scope for a law that is both sustainable and implementable.
A law between ambition and practice
This call demonstrates the intersection of policy and practice. Organizations in biomass, timber production, and agriculture want legal clarity, lower costs, and a tailored approach. At the same time, public goals such as deforestation, biodiversity, and climate remain paramount. Simplification can make the EUDR more effective, provided it remains firmly anchored in EU legislation.
Source: Bioenergyeurope.org, photo: mountain adder
