The European Union (EU) Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) entered into force on June 29th, 2023, followed by an 18-month transition period. The regulation was originally scheduled to be be officially applied as of December 30th, 2024. However, the European Commission has proposed postponing its implementation by one year. The Council of the European Union has approved the Commission’s proposal and will next inform the European Parliament of its position. If the Parliament approves the proposal, the regulation will be applied from December 30th, 2025. The postponement provides both companies and authorities with more time to carefully prepare for the implementation. It is however recommended to get familiar with the upcoming changes and necessary measures already in advance.
The aim of the regulation is to ensure that products consumed in the EU do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation anywhere in the world. Additionally, the regulation aims to reduce the EU’s share of greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity. Permanent clearing of forests for agricultural use with the production of products covered by the regulation is considered in the regulation as deforestation. In Finland, the Finnish Food Authority has been assigned as the authority for the regulation and is responsible for ensuring compliance.
Follow the Finnish Food Authority -website for up-to-date information.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Kuehne+Nagel representative.
Sources: Customs, European Commission, European Council, Finnish Food Authority, Finnish Government
*News published on October 11th, 2024
*News updated on October 21nd, 2024: The text has been corrected to include information about the European Commission’s proposal to postpone the implementation of the regulation. Additionally, information about the Council of the European Union’s approval and the next steps involving the European Parliament has been added.
