• Companies and NGOs warn against reopening the EU deforestation regulation again

• Repeated delays have already pushed implementation to 2026–2027

• The April review is seen as a critical test of the EU’s environmental credibility

A coalition of agribusiness firms, NGOs, and multi-stakeholder platforms is pushing back against any further revision of the European Union’s deforestation law ahead of a scheduled review in April.

In a letter sent on March 17 to EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, the group—whose signatories include Nestlé, Barry Callebaut, and Danone—called on the Commission to oppose reopening the regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR).

Adopted in June 2023, the law is designed to ban imports of commodities such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, wood, and beef if they are linked to deforestation.

Its rollout has already been delayed twice. Initially set to take effect in late 2024, implementation was first pushed to December 2025, then postponed again to December 30, 2026 for medium and large companies, and June 30, 2027 for small and microenterprises.

For companies that say they have invested heavily to comply, another revision would create damaging uncertainty. “Reopening the text would generate significant uncertainty,” the group said, warning that previous revisions had already shown how unpredictable the process can be. Such a move, they argue, could undermine confidence in EU regulation and strain relations with trade partners and producer countries.

While acknowledging that the law in its current form is not perfect, the coalition said a third revision before implementation would not necessarily resolve existing issues.

Instead, they argue that remaining concerns should be addressed through clearer guidelines, FAQs, and initiatives such as the emerging “community of practice” bringing together operators and regulators to share best practices. They also called for stronger support to producer countries—especially smallholders—to ensure compliance costs are not unfairly pushed upstream.

The upcoming April review is widely seen as a decisive moment for the regulation. Built into the latest version of the law, the review requires the European Commission to propose possible simplifications by April 30, 2026.

Some NGOs fear that this process could weaken the regulation and signal a rollback of the EU’s environmental and climate ambitions.

The EU, whose consumption is estimated to drive about 10% of global deforestation, has positioned the law as a flagship tool to make supply chains more accountable and reduce forest loss.

For African producers, the timeline remains critical. Previous delays have offered additional time to strengthen traceability systems and improve forest governance, but further uncertainty could complicate long-term planning.

Espoir Olodo