Overview
- European Parliament and Council negotiators struck a provisional agreement on December 4 to push back the anti‑deforestation law by a year, marking a second postponement.
- Large operators and traders would need to comply from December 30, 2026, with small operators starting June 30, 2027.
- Due‑diligence statements would be filed by companies first placing relevant products on the EU market, with micro and small primary operators submitting a one‑off simplified declaration.
- Printed products, including books and newspapers, would be excluded from the regulation’s scope under the compromise.
- The package adds IT‑system safeguards and requires a European Commission report by April 30, 2026 on impact and administrative burden, while the deal still awaits a mid‑December Parliament vote and Council endorsement.