The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), adopted last year, aims to ensure that certain goods on the EU market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world.

The Commission has said it is “technically ready” to implement the law, but has proposed to make it applicable from 30 December 2025 for large companies and 30 June 2026 for micro and small enterprises.

It said the extra year would “serve as a phasing-in period to ensure proper and effective implementation” and “in no way puts into question the objectives or the substance of the law, as agreed by the EU co-legislators”.

However, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the delay is “bad news for the climate-critical forests around the world as well as the human rights of indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities”.

Myrto Tilianaki, a senior advocate for environment and human rights at HRW, said: “The proposed delay is alarming, while the need for the EUDR is pressing.

“For example, HRW conducted an extensive assessment with partner organisations that indicates the Malaysian state of Sarawak is at high risk for deforestation and violations of indigenous peoples’ rights.

“Millions of hectares of ancient rainforests in Malaysia are at risk of being razed for timber and oil palm plantations supplying international markets. The EU is the third-largest destination of Malaysian palm oil exports.

“The Commission’s proposed delay would enable at least one more year of deforestation and human rights violations in Sarawak, as well as other areas where deforestation is driven by the supply chains of products widely consumed by Europeans.

“It would also disregard efforts by many companies and EU trading partners who deployed resources to comply with the EUDR on time.”

She added: “There is still a chance to reverse course, as the European Parliament and Council could refuse to approve the commission’s flawed proposal.

“The European Parliament and Council should oppose this delay and remind Commission president Ursula von der Leyen of the urgency of enforcing this landmark environmental law.”