Days after the European Commission vowed to push ahead with the EUDR and its current timeframe, 19 European trade associations representing the wood, pulp, feed, energy, and related sectors urged the European Commission on Monday to pause the rollout of the EU Deforestation Regulation, saying the current timetable — with an enforcement date of just 30 December 2025 — is simply unworkable and would impose heavy operational and legal burdens on the supply chains.
Published by the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry, the open letter argued that recent Commission amendments, still pending final approval, leave companies “no time to prepare.” “The recent amendments prolong a situation of costly uncertainty and unrealistic implementation timelines,” the letter reads. “It is unrealistic and unacceptable to expect that companies will be ready to comply right away with a regulation that has been hastily renegotiated only a few weeks before entry into application.”
The groups said the technical demands are acute for downstream operators that rely on IT systems linked to the EU’s TRACES platform and that most large industries will be unable to reconfigure those systems on short notice. “In fact, most large downstream industries will not be in the position to adapt their IT systems, which have been designed to interact with the TRACES platform,” the statement warns, while noting that small and micro‑enterprises will face a ballooning administrative burden as DDS reference numbers accumulate along the value chain.
Wood Central understands that the coalition also condemned the proposal’s staggered enforcement dates as impractical in the real world of integrated supply chains. “The proposal further fails to reflect the operational reality of the market, where medium‑sized and large companies routinely interact with small and micro‑enterprises within integrated supply chains,” the letter says. “The interdependence of companies within the value chain makes the proposed postponement illusory, as smaller operators will be required to align immediately to maintain business relations.”
While reaffirming support for the EUDR’s environmental objective, the groups insist that workability and legal clarity are essential for effective regulation. They call for a “stop‑the‑clock” mechanism so the Commission can assess practical impacts and find simplifications, ensuring the regulation achieves its goal without overwhelming businesses. Brussels officials did not offer a substantive response to the letter but reiterated the Commission’s commitment to an enforceable regulation. An EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the timetable reflects political compromises and a push to bring the measure into force, while acknowledging the technical complexity signalled by industry.
Industry leaders said a pause would be preferable to rushed implementation. “Such a reassessment should aim to identify genuine simplification measures and to render the EUDR obligations truly workable, while fully preserving the Regulation’s legitimate environmental objective of combating deforestation,” the open statement says.
The appeal, dated 27 October 2025, was signed by associations including APAG, Bioenergy Europe, CEI‑Bois, CEPF, CEPI, COCERAL, EOS, EPF, ETTF, and UECBV. The letter cautioned that, without timetable adjustments, the appeal, dated 27 October 2025 and signed by associations such as APAG, Bioenergy Europe, and others, argued that unless the timetable is adjusted, companies will have too little time to comply, which may disrupt integrated supply chains, increase compliance costs, and undermine the EUDR’s goal of protecting investment.
- To learn why failures with the EUDR’s IT system could lead to further delays in the rollout of the world’s strictest deforestation regulation, click here for Wood Central’s special feature.
