European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium © Earthsight
PRESS RELEASE
26 November 2025
Today, the European Parliament voted for another 12-month postponement to the already-delayed EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a law which aims to prevent EU consumption from driving forest loss and associated illegal activity across the world.
The parliament also voted to amend the law to let large retailers off the hook for selling goods linked to deforestation, and to create a loophole that aims to exempt small European farmers and foresters from many of the law’s obligations.
Earthsight’s Policy and Communications Lead, Fyfe Strachan, said:
“Members of the EU Parliament have again voted to press pause on protecting forests and instead watch the products of deforestation and associated human rights abuses flow into Europe for yet another year.
Our most recent research has shown that timber produced through the bulldozing of Indonesian rainforests, including critical orangutan habitat, is making its way to Europe. Until the EUDR is in place, there is nothing to stop European businesses continuing to buy the products of this environmental destruction.”
Worryingly, parliament has asked the EU Commission to undertake a ‘simplification review’ of the law and come back with a report by April 2026. This report could trigger another round of amendments, compounding the legal uncertainty created by today’s vote.
Ms Strachan said:
“Today’s parliamentary session showed how a process that began with the promise of targeted ‘simplification’ ultimately saw hundreds of rushed amendments attacking the law from all sides.
Yet parliament seems unable to learn from this, endorsing a review clause that could see the whole process repeated next year.
Businesses across Europe have said in recent months they are ready to implement the law. Delaying and weakening the EUDR punishes these companies for investing in compliance while rewarding the laggards.
The EUDR is too important to let it be carved up and picked apart. The EU Commission must take this proposal off the table and implement the law as planned.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Earthsight is a London-based non-profit committed to exposing environmental and social crime and their links to global consumption.
- The EUDR bans the import or trade within Europe of palm oil, beef, leather, cocoa, coffee, soy, rubber and timber – and some derived goods – produced illegally or on land deforested after December 2020.
- The EUDR was passed in June 2023, following three years of discussion and debate. It was originally scheduled to come into effect in December 2024, but this was delayed for one year in October 2024.
- The EU Parliament, Council of the EU and EU Commission will now meet to negotiate and agree on the final amendments to the law.
Contacts:
Earthsight Policy and Communications Lead, Fyfe Strachan
