Updated: 21 October, 17:49 CET
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‍The European Commission has officially confirmed that the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will not be delayed for large and medium-sized companies. Instead, it proposes targeted adjustments to simplify compliance for small operators and reduce IT system pressure ahead of enforcement.

While the legislative proposal still requires approval from the European Parliament and the Council, it provides the clearest view yet of the EUDR timeline and implementation plan.

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Key updates from the European Commission

1. No delay for large and medium companies

The main EUDR deadline of 30 December 2025 remains unchanged for most operators and traders. However, to allow for a smoother transition, the Commission proposes a six-month grace period for enforcement and checks during the first half of 2026.

2. Extended deadline for small and micro enterprises

Micro and small primary operators - particularly those from low-risk countries - would have until 30 December 2026 to comply. These operators would also benefit from simplified reporting obligations, including a one-off declaration instead of continuous due diligence submissions.

3. Streamlined reporting across supply chains

Downstream operators and traders (such as retailers and manufacturers) would no longer be required to submit separate due diligence statements in the EUDR IT system. Only the first importer or operator placing goods on the EU market would need to file the due diligence documentation.

4. Focus on strengthening the EUDR IT system

The Commission cited unexpectedly high data volumes and system load projections as key reasons for introducing these phased measures. The proposal aims to ensure the IT system is robust enough to handle global data exchanges and compliance checks.

What this means for companies

For large and medium companies, the practical impact is clear: EUDR compliance work must continue.

While there is some relief in enforcement flexibility, companies handling commodities like soy, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, timber, rubber, or beef will still need to have systems in place by the end of 2025.

Smaller suppliers connected to larger value chains will also need to start collecting and sharing sourcing and geolocation data to maintain compliance readiness.

Next steps

The proposal now moves to the European Parliament and Council for approval. The Commission has urged both institutions to adopt it by the end of 2025 to prevent disruption.

Coolset will continue monitoring developments closely.

Coolset’s stance

We welcome the Commission’s renewed commitment to implementation.

Deforestation must remain a top priority - and this proposal strikes a pragmatic balance between clarity, preparedness, and proportionality.

At Coolset, we believe transparency and traceability are not just compliance requirements, they’re business fundamentals.

Over the past six months, we’ve built one of the most comprehensive EUDR compliance platforms on the market, combining supplier mapping, satellite verification, automated risk assessments and evidence management into one system.

We’re ready to help companies build stronger, more trusted supply chains.

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