The EU is delaying the implementation of its import ban linked to the anti-deforestation law for the second time, following pressure from the United States and other trade partners.
The law, aimed at banning imports linked to deforestation, was scheduled to take effect by the end of the year. However, the European Commission stated that the necessary support systems are not yet in place. Originally passed in 2023, the law was first slated for implementation in late 2024 before being pushed back to late 2025.
“We have concluded that we cannot meet the original deadline without causing disruptions to our businesses and supply chains,” commission spokesman Olof Gill stated.
The legislation seeks to prevent European consumers from unintentionally supporting climate change by purchasing goods linked to deforestation. It would prohibit imports such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, wood, and palm oil unless producers can verify that these products were not cultivated on deforested land.
The European Commission will therefore seek to postpone the law’s implementation by another year, pushing it to late 2026. The delay still requires approval from EU member states and the European Parliament.
The ban has encountered resistance from several trading partners, including Brazil and the United States, as well as certain EU member states. Developing nations warn that the law could exclude millions of small-scale farmers from accessing the EU market, citing limited resources and technical expertise needed for compliance.
The European Commission attributed the latest postponement to ‘serious capacity concerns regarding the IT system,’ which designed to support the law’s rollout, adding that additional time is required to ensure its smooth operation.
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