Rules & regulations

EUDR postponed again

Ricardo Helderop
Ricardo Helderop
HSEQ Manager

Table of Contents

  • Rules & regulations

We are staying on course towards responsible supply chains

Contrary to earlier reports, Brussels announced at the end of November that the deadline for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been postponed by another 12 months. Nevertheless, we maintain our course, as we believe that action is needed now for a better future. As an organization, we are already at an advanced stage, particularly regarding data collection and traceability.

New effective dates

The EUDR requires companies to be able to demonstrate that their products do not contribute to deforestation and illegal activities. The postponement means that the new law will come into effect on 30 December 2026 for medium-sized and large companies, and on 30 June 2027 for micro and small companies. There is also a proposal to relax the regulations. Naturally, we are in favour of regulations that are workable for everyone within the chain – from logging to end product – but as far as we are concerned, the relaxation should not lead to dilution. The need for action remains to pave the way for responsible supply chains. And that is precisely what we have been about for years: doing honest and responsible business.

Responsibility as a catalyst for sustainability

At Packit, we believe that sustainability does not start with legislation, but with responsibility. That is why we have been working behind the scenes for some time on the transition to deforestation-free supply chains. Although the implementation of the EUDR is challenging and requires significant investments in traceability and data processing, we have already taken several positive steps. For years, we have been working closely with suppliers certified to BSCI / FSC / GFSI and/or ISO, and we have developed an EUDR data collection form for gathering the necessary data for the DDS. Furthermore, we operate exclusively based on concrete data, not on assumptions. Your assurance: a partner committed to integrity.

What does the EUDR entail?

The core of the EUDR is simple: companies may only place certain products on the EU market or export them from the EU if they can demonstrate that these products originate from deforestation-free areas, are legally harvested, and processed in accordance with the legislation of the country of origin. This ‘demonstration’ was initially less straightforward, because every chain partner had the same obligations in the area of a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) and traceability. This is quite a challenge for small-scale farmers in remote areas. These types of measures have been adjusted in the new proposal. For example, only the ‘first placer’ needs to submit a DDS and micro and small primary operators only need to issue a simplified declaration once. More clarity on this is expected at the end of April 2026.

The impact

The EUDR requires a new way of doing business, including with regard to documentation, verification, traceability and risk assessment. Our customers will not notice any of this, except for increased transparency and documentation security. And that is, of course, a positive development.

The implementation of the EUDR may result in supply changes in the short term, for example because non-compliant raw materials are removed from the chain. This has potential implications for certain products in the category. However, this potential shift leads to a more reliable and ethically sound chain in the long term.

Our focus is on maintaining and managing the relationship with our suppliers rather than terminating it. For example, we look at how we can help with the transition to demonstrably deforestation-free production, so that we can continue to grow together. We also see this as our responsibility. After all, continuity on the supplier side directly determines continuity on the retailer side. By placing responsibility at the center, we guarantee deliverability and continuity and contribute to accelerating our (and your) sustainability mission.

What's next?

Our advice to retailers and other companies in the role of trader under this upcoming law: Do not wait, but continue to proactively collect data from suppliers as prescribed by EU 2023/1115. In this way, we will continue to steer towards responsible chains together.

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