The EU Deforestation Regulation, which replaces the bloc’s Timber Regulation, entered into force in June 2023. Initially, the rules were set to apply from 30 December 2024, but the date was postponed to 30 December 2025. The European Commission has now initiated a process to further delay the implementation by another year. No formal decision has yet been made; the proposal must first be negotiated between the Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council before it can be officially adopted.
The background to these delays lies in the many remaining uncertainties surrounding the practical implementation of the regulation. The complexity of the legal framework, ongoing ambiguities, increased administrative burden for companies, and the global trade dimension have led to widespread criticism and a continuing political debate on regulatory simplification. However, the timeline and outcome of this process remain uncertain.
The Swedish Forest Industries federation (SFIF) support the regulation’s overarching goal of preventing deforestation and forest degradation linked to specific commodities and products. The law applies to both producers and traders who place these products on the EU market or export them from the EU.
Under the regulation, companies must apply due diligence when producing products in order to avoid deforestation and forest degradation. This is done by i.e. by collecting geolocation data on raw materials and assessing the risk of deforestation. Companies must also submit due diligence statements to an EU information system where authorities and customers are able to review such information. The system also creates a reference number which can be passed on to customers.
Find Commissioner Roswall’s letter to the Council and the European Parliament here.
Where can I find more information about the Deforestation Regulation?
The Swedish Forest Agency website – Deforestation Regulation (in Swedish)
EU Commission website – Deforestation Regulation implementation (europa.eu)
