The European Commission’s move to “simplify” the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a shameful surrender to political pressure.
The regulation, adopted in 2023 after years of public demand, serves as a critical tool to stop EU consumption from fuelling deforestation at home and abroad. Weakening its requirements is both indefensible and dangerously irresponsible.
The European Commission initially cited IT problems for the delay. However, instead of focusing resources on addressing them before the 30 December 2025 deadline, Commissioner for Environment, Jessika Roswall, is now suggesting to change the regulation at its core.
“Let’s be clear: proposing a partial delay and further changes is a deliberate choice, not an absolute necessity. It does not seem that the European Commission ever explored other options to fix any IT issues; it feels like the perfect scapegoat to water down the regulation,” said Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, Senior Forest Policy Officer at WWF European Policy Office.
The proposal includes revisions that would significantly increase risks of deforestation and illegality in supply chains. Weakening the law now only punishes companies that have already invested in compliance and sustainability.
“The Commission may win a few political points, but the losers are clear: companies that have invested in deforestation-free supply chains, and forests that will continue vanishing at a breathtaking pace,” said Schulmeister- Oldenhove. “Forests are not bargaining chips. They are essential to climate stability, biodiversity, and human rights protection. The EU must stop undermining its own laws and start delivering on the promises it made.”
The timing of this decision, just weeks before COP30, calls into question the EU’s credibility as a global leader on environmental protection and stalls momentum towards deforestation-free supply chains.
WWF calls on the European Parliament and Member States to:
- Uphold the regulation as agreed;
- Provide real support for implementation, not excuses for inaction;
- Stand with the 1.1 million citizens who demanded bold EU action on deforestation.
WWF also urges companies to maintain and further develop their due diligence systems to achieve fully traceable, transparent and deforestation-free supply chains. This is essential to uphold the rights of Indigenous and local peoples, mitigate climate change, and make a real contribution to the fight against nature destruction.
