EUDR News & Updates — eudr.today

The EU Deforestation Regulation — What Is Happening Now

Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, commonly known as the EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation), remains one of the most debated pieces of European legislation in recent years. Adopted in June 2023 with the aim of eliminating deforestation from EU supply chains, the regulation directly affects trade in timber, coffee, cocoa, rubber, soy, palm oil and cattle products.

At eudr.today, we track legislative developments, compliance deadlines and the impact on operators and traders across Romania and the European Union.

Latest Developments — Summer 2026

• August 2026 — Commission trainings on the Information System: The Commission began virtual training sessions on the EUDR Information System at the end of July, and new dates were published in early August on the Commission's Information System pages. The sessions demonstrate due diligence statement submission; dedicated sessions for micro and small primary operators on the simplified declaration will follow. The Information System implementing act — Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1565 — has been in force since 17 July 2026, and the Annex I delegated act is in its two-month scrutiny period before the Parliament and Council: if neither objects, the final product list enters into force around mid-September 2026. Details on the Information System page.
• 13 July 2026 — Product scope is now final: The Commission adopted the Delegated Act amending Annex I (the in-scope product list) and the Implementing Act on the EUDR Information System. Out of scope: cattle hides, skins and leather, retreaded tyres, soybeans for sowing, vulcanised rubber articles, conveyor and transmission belts, and aircraft and vehicle seats. Newly in scope: soluble coffee, certain palm oil derivatives and frozen cattle tongues — with compliance required from 30 December 2027. The updated guidance document is now available in all EU languages, including Romanian. Full breakdown on the July 2026 delegated act page.
• 4 May 2026 — Commission publishes the simplification review: The European Commission has formally adopted the EUDR simplification package (press release IP/26/941). The package includes a report to the European Parliament and Council, an updated guidance document, updated FAQs, a draft delegated act on product scope (open for public feedback until 1 June 2026), and an updated implementing act on the EUDR Information System. The Commission claims a ≈75% reduction in annual compliance costs compared to the original EUDR. Full breakdown on the May 2026 simplification review page.
• Simplification package slips past 30 April: At the EC midday press briefing on 27 April 2026, Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen confirmed that the simplification review legally due by 30 April will instead be presented "in the coming days" — "it's not Friday". She was emphatic on one point: "We will not reopen the European Union deforestation regulation." The package will include a review report, updated FAQs and guidance, a delegated act on product scope, and an implementing act on the IT system. Full analysis on the April 2026 simplification package page.
• Germany pushes its own simplification agenda: On 30 March 2026, the German Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Home Affairs (BMLEH) submitted formal proposals to the Commission, including collective regional reporting for small producers, lighter requirements for imports from low-risk countries, and limiting checks and sanctions to the first placing on the market. Federal Minister Alois Rainer: "We can achieve effective global forest protection without undermining our companies' competitiveness."
• New compliance deadlines now in force: Following the targeted revision adopted by the Council on 18 December 2025 and published in the EU Official Journal on 23 December 2025, large and medium operators must comply by 30 December 2026; small and micro operators (non-timber products) by 30 June 2027. See the full deadline timeline.
• Scope narrowed: Printed products (HS code "ex 49") have been removed from the regulation's scope. Simplified due diligence applies to downstream operators and traders, and to a new category of small and micro primary operators in low-risk countries.
• EU Information System: The IT platform relaunched in June 2026, and the implementing act adopted on 13 July 2026 sets the final technical rules: simplified declarations for micro and small primary operators and updated API specifications for automated submissions. Learn more about the status of the information system.
• Impact on Romania: As one of the EU's largest timber producers, Romania faces specific challenges related to traceability and compliance. Read the analysis of the impact on the Romanian forestry sector.

Why EUDR Matters

The European Union is the world's second-largest consumer of products associated with deforestation, after China. Through the EUDR, the EU aims to reduce the ecological footprint of European trade by imposing due diligence obligations for all seven targeted commodities and their derivatives.

The regulation introduces a country benchmarking system based on deforestation risk (high, standard, low), which will directly influence the intensity of checks imposed on operators. This benchmarking system is managed through the EU Information System.

Complementary Resources

For a detailed legal analysis of the regulation text, visit eudr.live — the EUDR knowledge hub. For practical compliance guides and implementation tools, see eudr.solutions. All three EUDR sites are published by Sustainability Today, the sustainability compliance platform for timber, forestry and supply chain operators.

Follow industry and NGO reactions to understand the perspectives of different stakeholders on the future of EUDR.