The implementation of the European Union’s new deforestation regulation has been postponed once again. The European Commission confirmed that the rules, originally scheduled to apply from 30 December 2024, will now take effect in December 2026, due to technical difficulties in the IT platform designed to process companies’ due diligence statements.
Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall informed members of the European Parliament and the Council in a letter on Tuesday that the system would not be ready to handle the large volume of data expected from operators starting 1 January 2026.
The regulation obliges suppliers of key commodities such as palm oil, timber, beef and coffee to prove that their production has not contributed to deforestation. Failure to comply would exclude these products from EU markets.
The law has faced growing resistance from industry, political groups and exporting countries, all of which have criticised the lack of clear guidance during the transition period. The first application date was already delayed once, and this second postponement further intensifies debate over how to balance environmental goals with economic and trade concerns.
The Commission confirmed that consultations with the Parliament and Council are ongoing and that a formal proposal for the revised timeline will be presented shortly.
