23 July 2025

2 minute read

By: Global Ag Media

A coalition of European agri-food, forestry, and bioeconomy organisations is calling on the European Commission to include the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in its upcoming simplification proposals, citing legal uncertainty, disproportionate requirements, and administrative burden.

The call follows the Commission’s December 2024 decision to extend the regulation’s implementation timeline—an action welcomed by the signatory organisations. However, they argue that meaningful simplification is now urgently needed.

While some Members of the European Parliament and Agriculture Ministers have expressed support for a more proportionate approach, industry groups maintain that the regulation’s current framework is impractical and risks diverting commodity flows.

In a joint statement issued on July 9, the signatories stressed that “a more targeted, risk-based, and practicable implementation” is needed, beyond what the current regulation provides.

The Commission has issued guidance and FAQs intended to clarify the EUDR, but the groups note these documents carry no legal weight and may be interpreted differently across Member States. They argue that true simplification must come through legislative amendments, not non-binding documents.

They urged the Commission to take advantage of the upcoming Omnibus legislative packages to conduct a full review of the regulation.

“We remain fully committed to engaging in constructive dialogue,” the statement said, “and stand ready to contribute to a regulatory process that enables the EUDR to achieve its environmental goals without jeopardising the viability of responsible operators across the supply chain.”

The joint call was issued on behalf of 17 organisations, including Copa-Cogeca, FEFAC, Bioenergy Europe, COCERAL, the European Landowners’ Organization and others representing agriculture, forestry, livestock, trade and processing sectors.