Overview
- The European Parliament approved changes by 402–250 with 8 abstentions to postpone the anti‑deforestation rules by one year and simplify compliance for commodities such as beef, soy, wood, palm oil, cocoa, rubber and coffee.
- Large operators must comply from 30 December 2026, while micro and small companies face a start date of 30 June 2027.
- Responsibility for filing due‑diligence declarations shifts to companies that first place products on the EU market, with smaller operators allowed a single simplified declaration.
- Lawmakers said the delay is intended to ensure a smoother transition and strengthen the EU’s electronic due‑diligence IT system, which the Commission flagged as facing heavier‑than‑expected loads.
- The Parliament requested a simplification review by 30 April 2026, as Argentine officials and exporters—classified by the EU as standard risk—welcome near‑term relief and continue to contest added data and certification demands from the private VISEC platform.