Uphold the EUDR: No delay, no loopholes, no exemptions.
No delays. No loopholes. No exemptions. European Institutions must uphold the integrity of the EUDR
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a landmark law that aims to prevent products placed on the EU market from contributing to global deforestation. It represents a critical step toward a sustainable, competitive, and resilient European economy.
Business for Nature deplores the European Commission’s proposal to amend the regulations. This proposal creates immediate legal uncertainty, undermines the substantial business investments already made, and distorts competition by rewarding those who have chosen not to act.
A stable and predictable regulatory environment is essential for companies to plan, invest, and innovate. Delaying or weakening the EUDR threatens these foundations, damaging both Europe’s environmental credibility and its economic competitiveness.
Call to action: No Delays, No Exemptions, accept the proposal made by the European Commission
We urge co-legislators to swiftly accept the proposal made by the European Commission and finalize the co-decision procedure by the end of 2025. This decisive action will limit legal uncertainty, reduce additional burden and costs and incentivize business action.
The co-decision should ensure:
No delays in the regulation coming into force and a rejection of any “stop the clock” mechanisms that undermine progress.
No exemptions that create loopholes and diminish legal certainty for companies that have already aligned their operations with compliance requirements.
A coordinated EU-wide implementation approach and support to assist companies and local authorities in the successful implementation of the requirements
Business supports the EUDR
Businesses across sectors from timber to chocolate, rubber and retail support the implementation of the EUDR and have opposed delays citing uncertainty, risk to investments and the uneven playing field that they create.
Learn more at Business4forests.eu
Global deforestation: an economic threat that can’t be ignored
Europe’s future competitiveness depends on its ability to lead the sustainability transition with confidence and consistency. Weakening the EUDR would not only erode environmental progress but also undermine the very foundations of Europe’s economic strength.
Global deforestation has been estimated at 10 million hectares each year. This is an economic risk. Forests provide up to $150 trillion in ecosystem services, and supporting their conservation is a strategic investment in long-term economic, social, and ecological stability, sustainability, and inclusive prosperity. Research from the World Bank estimates that deforestation could cause annual economic losses of $2.7 trillion by 2030. For companies, these losses are linked to the hidden and ongoing risks and costs of forest degradation.
The EUDR: a foundation for responsible, resilient and competitive economies
Far from being a burden, the EUDR is a strategic economic instrument to address this major economic risk to the EU economy. A clear, consistent regulation:
Supports long-term resilience and competitiveness by reducing exposure to climate and nature risks and strengthening companies’ ability to absorb future shocks and disruptions (e.g, droughts, floods, extreme weather events).
Strengthens the EU’s leadership in setting global sustainability standards, ensuring EU companies have a competitive advantage as they lead with innovation. Businesses have responded to this regulatory clarity with major investments in compliance systems, data infrastructure, and supply chain transparency. These efforts have strengthened Europe’s position as a leader in sustainable trade.
Changes to the EUDR create legal uncertainty and are a major risk to competitiveness
Reopening the regulation has introduced immediate and costly uncertainty into the European business environment. Companies that acted early and in good faith, investing in systems to meet the law’s requirements, now face a moving regulatory landscape. Constant revisions and exemptions signal that responsible behavior is a competitive disadvantage, the opposite of what Europe’s Green Deal and industrial strategy intend..
This unpredictability:
Undermines confidence in EU regulatory stability.
Increases compliance costs for companies forced to adapt to shifting requirements.
Penalizes responsible actors, while rewarding inaction and delay.
Distorts competition by creating unfair advantages for those who ignore the rules.
Sends a damaging global signal a few weeks before COP30, undermining the EU’s reputation as a reliable and principled regulatory power.