EU Commission Adopts New Measures Ahead of EUDR Application in December 2026

The European Commission has adopted two measures to support the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Regulation starts applying at the end of December 2026.

A Delegated Act updates and simplifies the list of covered products. Cattle hides, skins and leather, re-treaded tyres, soybeans for sowing, vulcanised rubber articles, conveyor and transmission belts, and aircraft and motor vehicle seats are removed from scope. Soluble coffee, certain palm oil derivatives and frozen cattle tongues are added. Samples used for analysis, examination and testing are now explicitly outside the scope. Newly added products only become subject to the Regulation from 30 December 2027. The Delegated Act still needs to pass a two-month scrutiny period with Parliament and Council before it applies in December 2026.

The Commission also adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1565. It sets out detailed technical rules for the EUDR Information System. The rules reflect two new actor categories introduced by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650: downstream operators and micro or small primary operators. Downstream operators and traders no longer need to submit due diligence statements. Micro or small primary operators submit a simpler document instead, called a Simplified Declaration. They can update it later if key information changes.

Several practical changes matter for day-to-day use of the system:

• Grouping of statements: Operators can now combine several previously submitted statements into one new submission. This helps avoid file-size limits and reduces disruption at customs.
• One account, multiple roles: Each user creates a single account, but can hold different roles within it. Registration details must be kept up to date.
• Contingency arrangements: By 30 December 2026, the Commission must publish how the system's availability works and what happens during outages longer than 60 minutes. This includes issuing a temporary reference number so operators can keep working even if the system is down.
• Risk profiling: Every statement is automatically screened for risk on submission. The result is only visible to authorities, not to the operator.
• Rejection window: Authorities can reject a statement if they spot a high risk of non-compliance, but only before a reference number has been issued.
• Data retention: Personal data is stored for up to five years after submission (or after grouping, for grouped statements).
• API access: New technical specifications support automated submission and processing through web services.

The Implementing Regulation enters into force three days after publication in the Official Journal. One provision, on how statements are assigned to national authorities, only applies from 15 October 2026, to give the system time to adapt.

The Information System itself reopened at the end of June 2026. The Commission will keep improving it and will run training sessions for companies starting end of July 2026. An updated EUDR Guidance Document, now available in all EU languages, was also published today.

For businesses affected by the EUDR, the practical steps are: check whether your products were added to or removed from Annex I, note the later 2027 deadline for newly added products, check if the new operator categories change your reporting duties, and get familiar with the updated Information System, including the grouping feature and simplified declarations.

Source: European Commission, DG Environment; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1565 of 13 July 2026 and Press release.