EU Deforestation Regulation

On the 23rd December 2025 the final text of the amending legislation regarding the EU Deforestation Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union ( Regulation (EU) 2025/2550 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115)).

The application of the EU Deforestation Regulation will be postponed by one year for all businesses.

Specific targeted amendments have been introduced to help companies, global stakeholders and EU Member States implement the regulation. For example:

- Printed products are now removed from the scope of the regulation.

- A due diligence statement (DDS) is only required by operators who place relevant products on the market for the first time.

- No obligation for downstream operators and Traders (non-SME) to submit due diligence statements (DDS) or pass on the reference numbers.

- Non-SME downstream operators and traders are no longer obliged to exercise due diligence or ascertain that due diligence was exercised.

- A new category of ‘micro or small primary operators’ has been introduced. These operators are only obliged to submit a one-time simplified declaration to the EUDR Information System.

You can learn more about the key amendments by viewing our webinar at the bottom of this page or visiting the European Commission website to view the full details of the amendment.

Link to the original European Parliament Press Release - Deforestation law: Parliament adopts changes to postpone and simplify measures | News | European Parliament

The EU Deforestation Regulation entered into force on 28 June 2023. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the designated Competent Authority for Ireland. This page aims to help you figure out what the regulation means for you. The information shared should help you answer the following questions:

• What is the EU Deforestation Regulation?
• Does the regulation apply to me?
• What steps are required to comply with the EUDR?
• When will the regulation apply from and to whom?

Background

On 29 June 2023, the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) entered into force. The main driver of deforestation is the expansion of agricultural land linked to the production of commodities like cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and some of their derived products, such as leather, chocolate, tyres, or furniture. As a major economy and consumer of these commodities linked to deforestation and forest degradation.

Under the Regulation, any operator or trader who places these commodities on the EU market for the first time, or exports them, must be able to prove that the products do not originate from recently deforested land or have contributed to forest degradation. Detailed information on the rationale for the European Union introducing this regulation can also be found HERE.

The EUDR repeals the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). For timber products produced before the entry into force of the EUDR on 29 June 2023 and placed on the market from 30th December 2026, the EUTR will continue applying until 31 December 2029. For other products and timber products produced after entry into force of the EUDR, the EUTR will be repealed when the EUDR enters into application.

You can find out more about implementation measures and tools here.

Objectives of the Regulation

In order to minimise the EU's contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation – and thus to reduce greenhouse gases and preserve biodiversity – relevant raw materials and products may only be placed on the market, made available or exported from the EU if:

• they are deforestation-free,
• they have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the producing country, and
• they are covered by a due diligence statement

Deforestation-free means that the relevant raw materials must not have been produced on land that was deforested after 31 December 2020 or, in the case of timber and timber products, that the timber was felled from the forest without forest degradation occurring there after 31 December 2020.

When will the regulation apply and to whom?

The table below outlines the dates of application depending on the type of company and their position in the supply chain.

The EU Commission published a guidance document on the application of the EUDR in October 2024 and a new FAQ on the Regulation in April 2025. Both guides are available for you to read and download. Please note a new FAQ is expected to be published in Q1 of 2026 to reflect the latest amendments to the Regulation.

• Guidance document to EUDR application
• FAQ of the EU Commission
• Read the EUDR Myth-buster
• See our factsheet for SMEs
• All further information from the EU Commission on the EUDR can be found here.

Anyone who has to submit a due diligence statement or a simplified declaration will do so through the EUDR Information System. This is an online platform developed by the EU Commission specifically for this purpose.

Operators submitting a due diligence statement (in the case of upstream operators) or a simplified declaration (in the case of small and micro primary operators) will receive a due diligence statement reference number or a unique identifier. They will need this number prior to placing relevant products on the market or exporting them.

The EU information system has been available since November 2024, and operators are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Details of the Commission Information System, how to register and login can be accessed here: The Information System of the Deforestation Regulation - European Commission. A downloadable user guide is also available: User Guide EU Information System (PDF, 2 MB, File does not meet accessibility standards)

The Department is regularly meeting sector specific stakeholders, answering questions from individual operators or traders and representing Ireland at EU fora such as the Multistakeholder Platform on Deforestation and at the European Council.

This webinar provides an update on the latest developments at EU level and a presentation on the contents of the provisional political agreement amending the EU Deforestation Regulation.

If you cannot find the answer to your question here, please send us an e-mail to eudr@agriculture.gov.ie . We will answer your request as soon as possible.

Related links

· Deforestation homepage

· EU rules against illegal logging

· Cooperation with partners

· Guidelines for businesses and authorities on the implementation of the Regulation

Contact Us

If you have any queries or questions with respect to this regulation please note the following commodity specific contact points within the Department:

• For general queries on the EUDR regulation overall email eudr@agriculture.gov.ie
• For queries with respect to Cattle email beefandsheeppolicy@agriculture.gov.ie
• For queries with respect to Coffee email EUDRCoffee@agriculture.gov.ie
• For queries with respect to Cocoa email EUDRCocoa@agriculture.gov.ie
• For queries with respect to Rubber email EUDRRubber@agriculture.gov.ie
• For queries with respect to Wood email EUDRwoodproducts@agriculture.gov.ie
• For queries with respect to Soy or Oil Palm email feedenquiries@agriculture.gov.ie

To ensure your question is addressed by the appropriate division in a timely fashion, it is important that you note the contact email address relevant to your commodity and send any correspondence you have to the right contact point.