WWF has welcomed the publication of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) review package, however it added that changes to the product scope mix – notably the decision to exclude leather – ‘sends a worrying signal’.
WWF was commenting following the European Commission‘s review of the EUDR, in which it outlined measures intended to simplify the implementation of the regulation later this year.
‘From promise to practice’
“We’re encouraged to see the EUDR finally moving from promise to practice. But now the EU must hold the line,” commented Anke Schulmeister‑Oldenhove, manager, forests at the WWF European Policy Office. “What we need now is decisive implementation, clear enforcement, and the political will to stand by the commitments already made. Only then will the EUDR deliver the real protection our forests urgently need.”
The updated guidance seeks to provide clearer rules for businesses, member states and trading partners, while also supporting consistent enforcement across the European Union. In terms of product scope, leather, retreaded tyres and some categories of reused or waste materials have been withdrawn, while certain downstream products, such as soluble coffee and certain palm oil derivatives, have been added.
WWF warned that any further exclusions from the EUDR would increase the risk of deforestation and create a fragmented framework, considering that many firms have already invested ‘significant’ time and resources in preparing their supply chains for the introduction of EUDR.
“Delays and half-baked amendments have already come at a tangible cost for businesses and nature,” Schulmeister‑Oldenhove added. “Weakening the EUDR by exempting specific sectors would undermine the regulation’s credibility, make compliance more complex and enforcement less effective.”
‘Real benefits’
According to WWF analysis, each year of delay is associated with the loss of tens of millions of trees and additional carbon emissions. The group called on EU institutions, member states and businesses to prioritise implementation, cooperation and capacity building, ensuring that the EUDR ‘delivers real benefits for forests, people and responsible companies’.
Commenting on the revised guidelines, Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said that the simplification measures will “substantially reduce administrative burden. They are expected to reduce annual compliance costs for companies by about 75%.
“Our efforts are fully focused on facilitating implementation in the most efficient way. We all now need to work towards a successful entry into application of the law by the end of 2026 and keep in mind its important objective of reducing deforestation globally.” Read more here and here.
