Commission claims IT glitch forced second delay to EU deforestation rules 

Implementation of EU deforestation rules will be delayed for a second time, to December 2026, the European Commission announced on Tuesday, citing technical issues in the IT system dealing with the submission of due diligence statements by affected businesses.

Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall revealed the postponement of the EU’s anti-deforestation law by one year in a letter sent on Tuesday to lawmakers in the European Parliament and the European Council, claiming the IT system wouldn’t be able to handle the flow of information coming from economic operators that would arrive from 1 January 2026.

Originally set to kick off on 30 December 2024, the Deforestation Regulation has suffered increased pressure from industry, political groups and third countries affected by exports, saying the EU executive had failed to offer appropriate guidance to help companies during the transition phase.

The law requires suppliers of palm oil, timber, coffee, beef and other commodities to prove their production did not cause forest clearance. It was meant to become law on 30 December 2024 and failure to comply would mean producers wouldn't be allowed to sell in EU markets.

The European People Party’s (EPP) group, which was instrumental promoting the first delay of the EU anti-deforestation’s law last year, welcomed the EU executive’s plan to postpone the law meant to help combat global deforestation claiming the law would be a death sentence to the majority of small players like SMEs, farmers and coffee roasters.

A Commission spokesperson told reporters today the original deadline couldn’t be met without causing supply disruptions and denied any link to the trade deal recently struck with Indonesia, a country which enforcement of the law would impact significantly, or other trade deals.

“We have to step back and see how we can address the risks, finding the right balance between the obligations of the economic operators and the IT system,” the EU spokesperson added.

The EU spokesperson said there are “lots of requests to simplify rules” by businesses, hinting at the possibility of a separate set of rules to cut red tape, paving the way for increased pressure from lawmakers to downgrade key provisions within the law.

German lawmaker Peter Liese, the EPP group’s spokesman on environment called for exemptions from onerous obligations on forestry owners and farmers based in Europe and in third countries.

“The goal of stopping global deforestation is and remains the right one, but a bureaucratic monster weakens the acceptance of European environmental policy,” Liese said, adding “simplifications must now follow as a matter of urgency”.

French lawmaker Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe) said the Commission’s decision was “deplorable” since the EU executive had had time enough to adjust since the first delay and added he will try to push for a more limited delay.

“Any excessive delay would mean lost investments for the companies we have asked to play the game from the outset – and which have done so,” said Canfin.

“Unbelievable that the Commission is again trying to delay the EU deforestation law. Bad for business. Bad for investment. Bad for the planet. Commission, you are playing with fire,” said MEP Kathleen Van Brempt (Belgium/S&D) on X.

Spanish MEP César Luena (S&D) said: “It is a disgrace and a clear lack of foresight to postpone the Deforestation Regulation for yet another year. If it is delayed because they refuse to implement it, that is very serious; if it is due to the Commission’s inability to manage technical matters, it is even worse.”

Commissioner Roswall is currently reaching out to the Parliament and Council and a proposal will be tabled as soon as possible, according to the Commission spokesperson.