In October 2025, the situation seemed clear. Large food companies were expected to comply with the EUDR by December 30, 2025, while smaller businesses had until December 30, 2026. A month later, everything shifted again. Both the European Parliament and the European Council opted for a single unified postponement, meaning large companies now have until December 30, 2026 to meet the requirements.
On November 26, 2025, the European Parliament approved a targeted revision of the 2023 regulation. Large companies and traders now have until December 30, 2026. Micro and small enterprises receive additional time until June 30, 2027. This extension is mainly needed because the EU information system still isn’t stable enough to support digital due diligence statements.
The Parliament also wants the responsibility for submitting a due diligence statement to sit exclusively with the party that places a product on the EU market for the first time. That reduces reporting further down the chain. For micro and small operators in primary production, only a single simplified declaration remains. By April 30, 2026, the EU must assess how this approach works in practice.
On November 25, 2025, the European Council adopted its negotiation mandate. Member states also support postponing the entry into force of the regulation. The previously proposed grace period for larger companies has been removed.
Downstream operators no longer need to file their own due diligence statements. They only need to keep and pass on the reference number of the initial declaration. The Council emphasizes reducing administrative burdens while keeping the original objectives of the regulation intact.
The European Parliament moved forward with this postponement even though, in mid-October, it received a letter from industry urging the EU not to delay the legislation. Nestlé, Mars Wrigley, Ferrero, Tony’s Chocolonely and other major food companies signed the appeal. They wrote that a delay “puts the preservation of forests worldwide at risk” and “undermines trust in Europe’s regulatory commitments.”
According to the signatories, preparations were well underway, and they would have been ready to comply by December 31, 2025. In their view, a technical IT issue should not be used as grounds for postponement.
Source: Europees Parlement
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