What Is the EU Deforestation Regulation? 8 Key Questions, Answered

The world is losing 11 football (soccer) fields of tropical primary forest every minute; much of it is the result of clearing for farms, pastures and tree plantations.

As a major buyer of commodities largely responsible for fueling deforestation — such as palm oil, cocoa, coffee, soy, cattle and timber — the European Union has both a responsibility and an opportunity to help shift global markets toward more sustainable supply chains. The landmark EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), adopted in 2023, requires businesses to demonstrate that the products they sell or export to the EU do not come from land that was recently deforested or degraded. 

The EUDR is a key step in fighting back against deforestation and supporting national forest protection policies. Yet despite its promise, the regulation has faced delays and pushback, threatening its timely implementation.

Just weeks before the EUDR was to go into force on Dec. 30, 2025, the European Parliament voted to delay application until Dec. 30, 2026 for large corporations and until June 30, 2027 for small businesses. Along with the delay, new amendments weakened the regulation by simplifying requirements for certain businesses to show proof of deforestation-free products; and remove printed products, such as books and publications, from the regulation’s scope.

At a time when forests are increasingly under threat, it’s more urgent than ever to understand the regulation and ensure its full implementation. Here, we dive deeply into the legislation's details and potential impacts.