The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a new piece of legislation aimed at ensuring that products consumed within the EU do not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation.
The regulation covers commodities such as soy, palm oil, beef, cocoa, coffee, rubber and wood, and imposes requirements on companies that produce, import or trade these products. According to the UN, approximately 90% of global deforestation is caused by the conversion of forest land into agricultural land, followed by urban expansion and mining.
Companies subject to the regulation must apply what is known as “due diligence”. This means collecting geolocation data for commodities, assessing the risk of deforestation, and submitting a due diligence statement to the EU’s central information system.
The Swedish Forest Industries' view on the regulation
The Swedish Forest Industries Federation (SFIF) support the overall objective of the regulation – to combat global deforestation and forest degradation. This is crucial for preserving biodiversity, securing livelihoods and addressing climate change. For SFIF, ensuring healthy and resilient forests is a strategic priority. Sweden already has robust forest legislation and a responsible forest sector, which means the risk of deforestation is negligible.
SFIF have long voiced concerns about the design of the regulation and the practical conditions for meeting its requirements. The framework is complex, and the lack of clear guidelines and functioning IT systems has created uncertainty. SFIF argue that the requirements for companies must be proportionate and predictable in order for the regulation’s intentions to be effectively fulfilled.
What is happening now?
The regulation entered into force on 29 June 2023. Initially, the rules were set to apply from 30 December 2024, but this has been postponed to 30 December 2025.
The delay is due to the many outstanding questions regarding how the regulation will be implemented in practice. The complexity of the framework, continued ambiguities, increased administrative burden for companies and the global trade dimension have led to widespread criticism and an ongoing political discussion about regulatory simplification.
On 23 September, Environment Commissioner Jessica Roswall announced that the Commission was considering postponing the implementation of the EUDR by another year. This is due to the fact that the Commission’s IT system – which is central to the application of the regulation – is not yet operational.
On 21 October, the European Commission presented a proposal to revise the EUDR, including a number of measures to address the IT issue and simplify the regulation. No postponement of the implementation date for large companies is proposed.
This proposal will now be negotiated in the European Parliament and the Council, both of which must approve the changes before they can enter into force. The timeline and outcome of this process remain uncertain.
Read the Commission's press release Commission proposes targeted measures to ensure the timely implementation of EU Deforestation Regulation.
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)
