Representatives from the UK and EU feed sectors have welcomed the European Fee’s proposal to delay the EU Forestry Regulation (EUDR) for an additional yr.
The EUDR would require importers of soya, plus different commodities, together with palm oil, espresso, cocoa, beef and timber, to exhibit that they haven’t been produced on deforested land to be bought within the EU.
The regulation was initially meant to use from 30 December 2024, however in the direction of the tip of final yr was postponed till to the tip of 2025 to offer corporations and buying and selling companions an extra 12 months to organize for the brand new tracing and due diligence necessities. Whereas that is an EU regulation, it would have an effect on the value and availability of compliant soya for UK feed producers.
Nonetheless, in a letter, EU Surroundings Commissioner Jessika Roswall notified the European Parliament’s Surroundings Committee chair, Antonio Decaro, and the Danish Presidency, of her intention to delay the principles by an extra yr.
She highlighted considerations over the functioning of the IT platform wanted to handle the huge information volumes required for compliance managing compliance, which she warned may create ‘uncertainty for authorities and operational difficulties for stakeholders’.
“Based mostly on the out there info, the Fee’s evaluation is that this can very possible result in the system slowing all the way down to unacceptable ranges and even to repeated and long-lasting disruptions, which might negatively impression corporations and their potentialities to adjust to the EUDR,” she mentioned.
“We nonetheless can’t imagine that we are able to actually get this with out disruption. We’d like the time to fight the chance with the load of data within the IT system.
“In view of this, the Fee is contemplating a postponement of the entry into software of the EUDR, at the moment foreseen for December 2025 30, for one yr.”
She acknowledged that the proposal will not be influenced by complaints from commerce companions equivalent to america, Japan, or Malaysia, nor by latest commerce talks with Indonesia.
The choice would should be ratified by the European Parliament and Council. Talking on the Council this week, the commissioner mentioned she would interact in discussions with each our bodies earlier than formally asserting a delay, which is extensively anticipated to be permitted.
She additionally left the door open to ‘simplifying’ the regulation past the delay, noting that simplification efforts will proceed in discussions with EU ministers.
The parliament member main negotiations on the file, Germany’s Christine Schneider (CDU), welcomed the transfer.
“For a very long time, I’ve been advocating for a sensible implementation of the Deforestation Regulation,” she mentioned. “Nonetheless, the renewed postponement clearly exhibits: the issues run deeper and can’t be solved by additional transitional intervals or non-binding tips”.
AIC welcome
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) described the proposed one-year delay as a ‘pragmatic and essential step to keep away from disruption and guarantee EU provide chain readiness’
AIC famous that EUDR is about to use in Northern Eire below the phrases of the Windsor Framework.
The European Compound Feed Producers’ Federation (FEFAC), additionally welcomed the proposed delay, citing inadequate availability of EUDR-compliant soy to fulfill the EU’s annual demand of over 30 million tonnes.
FEFAC urged the European Fee, the Council, and the European Parliament to incorporate EUDR within the Omnibus simplification package deal to scale back administrative burdens and safeguard important soy provides for the EU feed and livestock sector.
AIC will focus on the implications with its members and provide chain companions and contemplate any impression on the availability of responsibly sourced soya via to the tip of 2026.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) described the proposed delay as ‘embarrassing’, nonetheless. “It could result in huge stranded prices for all these corporations already invested in compliance, and to a lack of face of Fee President Von der Leyen,” it mentioned.
EUDR doesn’t apply within the UK, which is growing an analogous Forest Threat Commodity Regulation.
