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EU Parliament and Council Agree: EUDR To Be Delayed Again

  • Writer: Joe H
    Joe H
  • Dec 5, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

The Turman Group logo overlaid on a lush aerial view of Appalachian forests, symbolizing the company's commitment to sustainable forestry and EUDR compliance.

On the evening of December 4th, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council reached a definitive agreement to delay the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for a second time. This late-breaking deal establishes new timelines and introduces targeted changes to the regulation's scope and future review process.

Here is a breakdown of the agreement and what it means for impacted stakeholders, particularly in the United States.

The Agreement Details

The joint agreement finalized yesterday evening focuses on three key areas: a revised timeline, a mandatory review clause, and a specific product exemption.

1. The New Timeline

Compliance deadlines have been officially pushed back. The new dates for implementation are:

  • Large Enterprises: December 30, 2026

  • Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): June 30, 2027

2. Mandated Simplification Review 

The agreement mandates that the European Commission conduct a formal "simplification review" of the EUDR. The Commission is required to complete this review by April 30, 2026, and propose new legislation if appropriate based on their findings.

3. Print Media Exemption 

A significant aspect of the deal is the introduction of an exemption for print media. This removes products such as books, newspapers, and magazines from the scope of the regulation.

Next Steps for EUDR Delay Adoption

With the negotiated agreement between Parliament and the Council now confirmed, the legislative path is clear. The Parliament will be able to formally adopt this amendment during the Plenary Vote scheduled for December 16, 2025.

Impact on the United States and Relevant Commodities

This agreement has immediate implications for US suppliers and manufacturers dealing with EUDR-relevant commodities.

  • Relief for Print Media: The newly introduced Print Media exemption directly relieves the EUDR Due Diligence requirements for US print media manufacturers and their suppliers, especially paper mills. It is important to note, however, that this exemption only affects Print Media.

  • Other Commodities Must Still Comply: For all other relevant commodities outside of print media, the compliance requirements remain in place, governed by the new 2026/2027 deadlines.

  • Future Simplifications Awaited: The mandated simplification review, due by April 30, 2026, may potentially ease other Due Diligence Statement (DDS) requirements. Stakeholders must wait until that date to see what, if anything, the Commission formally proposes. Hopefully, the US and other trading partners will be able to effectively lobby during this interim period for simplifications that make EUDR palatable for US manufacturing and supply chains.

Note: While the proposed amendment also includes simplification measures for "downstream" and SME operators, US suppliers and manufacturers are generally considered "upstream" and do not benefit from these simplification measures. Only US SMEs acting as the Importer of Record (directly placing products on the EU market) gain the SME operator's simplification.

The US Opportunity Window

The mandated review in April 2026 offers a new, limited window for the US and its trading partners to lobby for further changes to the EUDR regulation. However, effectively utilizing this window requires a sophisticated understanding of EU legislative machinery. Efforts must be made from three angles simultaneously:

1. The Commission (The Originator) 

The European Commission is the only body with the power to introduce new legislation for the Council and Parliament to consider. Therefore, any potential changes to the EUDR must begin here. If the Commission is not convinced to hold the pen, the process cannot start.

2. The Council (The Governments) 

The Council of the European Union represents the governments of the EU Member States. For any proposal to pass, it requires a "Qualified Majority" which means meeting two strict thresholds simultaneously:

  • 55% of Member States: At least 15 of the current 27 countries must vote in favor.

  • 65% of Population: Those voting countries must represent at least 65% of the total EU population.

3. The EU Parliament (The Political Groups) 

The Parliament is composed of multi-national political groups rather than national blocs. These groups represent the population of the EU across borders.

  • To form a group, members must represent at least 7 of the 27 EU countries.

  • Lobbying here means building coalitions across national lines, rather than just targeting one specific country's delegation.

Conclusion

For US advocacy to succeed, it cannot focus on just one branch. It requires a synchronized engagement strategy that targets the Commission (to draft the changes), the Member State governments (to secure the Council vote), and the Political Groups (to secure the Parliamentary majority).

Protecting our national and global natural resources is absolutely vital. However, true global sustainability requires a partnership between industry and the environment, not a conflict. There is an opportunity to shape an EUDR policy that allows both to thrive.

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