The Commission insists that the European regulation for deforestation-free trade, adopted in 2023, will come into effect at the end of next year. However, companies will get an additional six months before sanctions and fines are applied.
Micro and small enterprises will have until December 2026 to comply with all requirements. The Commission aims to accommodate smaller producers who fear that adherence to the rules would impair their export position and access to the European market.
According to the new proposal, only companies placing products on the EU market for the first time must declare that their goods do not come from recently cleared forests. This greatly reduces the administrative burden for current importers, traders, processors, and retailers.
Environmental organizations call this a dangerous weakening. According to WWF, the Commission is undermining its own climate goals by yielding to political pressure. The organization warns that these adjustments will increase the risk of illegal logging and penalties for companies that do invest sustainably.
Sharp criticism also comes from the European Parliament. Dutch MEP Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (D66) described the procedure as opaque and pointed to a lack of information for lawmakers. According to him, the credibility of European legislation risks being undermined by political deals behind the scenes.
At the same time, various EU countries and agricultural companies see the relaxations as a necessary step. They complain that the deforestation law is too bureaucratic and imposes disproportionate burdens on European farmers and traders who already comply with high environmental standards.
The proposed changes still need to be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. There, EU countries and political groups can still demand adjustments before the final implementation is set. No consensus exists yet on further enforcement.
Parallel to this debate, the European Parliament on Tuesday rejected a separate proposal for enhanced forest monitoring within the EU. That plan aimed to use satellite and ground data for better monitoring of forest fires, droughts, and pests, but received insufficient support.