EC Hosts Info Session on EUDR Implementation and Simplifications

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) hosted a virtual information session for U.S. stakeholders on 8 June to provide an update on the European Union Deforestation Regulation(EUDR) following its May 2026 simplification review package.

Commission representatives outlined key elements of the updated implementation roadmap:

· Application Timelines: The regulation is set to apply on December 30, 2026, for large and medium operators, with micro and small enterprises granted an additional six months (until mid-2027).

· Upstream Obligations: Due diligence responsibilities have been streamlined to focus primarily on the first operator placing a product on the EU market.

· Scope Adjustments: Printed paper products under HS Code 49 have been removed from the scope, and an upcoming delegated act proposes further adjustments, including exclusions for samples, prototypes, and cattle hides.

· Support Repositories: DG ENV confirmed plans to launch two compliance repositories prior to December 30, 2026 — one for relevant national legislation and another for third-party certification schemes — to assist operators with risk assessments.

· Simplified Due Diligence for Low-RiskOrigins: For products originating from low-risk countries such as the U.S., operators are required to collect initial supply chain information (Step 1) but are exempt from formal risk assessments and mitigation steps (Steps 2 and 3).

Industry and U.S. Perspective

U.S. government representatives and forestry industry practitioners reiterated that fundamental concerns regarding the regulation remain unaddressed. Key points raised during the session included:

· Proportionality and Cost: Industry representatives emphasised that the EUDR imposes disproportionate administrative burdens and compliance costs on low-risk supply chains where there is negligible risk of deforestation.

· Impact on Small Landowners: U.S. family forest owners operate upstream in complex supply chains and do not qualify for the simplified reporting mechanisms granted to EU-based micro-operators.Stakeholders cautioned that excessive compliance costs could economically pressure non-industrial private forest owners.

· Traceability and Wood Residuals: Operational challenges around geolocation data for wood residuals (such as sawdust and millchips) were highlighted as a major bottleneck for wood processing facilities. DG ENV pointed to the "declaration in excess" mechanism in its FAQs as a flexible tool allowing facilities to map end-products back to a broad pool of compliant plots.

Demonstrating U.S. Hardwood Conformance via the AHAFramework

During the discussion, AHA was referenced as an effective, data-driven solution tailored to address the high level of fragmentation among U.S. family forest owners. Utilising advanced satellite and mapping data, the AHA framework enables the U.S. hardwood sector to provide precise, verifiable evidence of negligible deforestation risk and streamline EUDR due diligence. EU representatives noted that DG ENV remains open to engaging directly with industry representatives to review how systems like AHA can support compliance in practice.

DG ENV confirmed that the underlying legislative text will not be reopened and that enforcement will proceed according to the December 2026 timeline. U.S. stakeholders intend to continue high-level technical and policy discussions ahead of the implementation date.