What World Resources Institute: What is the EU Deforestation Regulation? 7 Key Questions, Answered

The world is losing 18 soccer fields of tropical primary 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 EU 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 responding to today’s deforestation and supporting countries in achieving their 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 entry into application of the law until Dec. 30, 2026 for large corporations and until June 30, 2027 for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and earning less than 10 million euros ($11.7 million) in annual sales of covered products.

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