The European Union’s Council has formally signed off on a targeted revision to simplify and postpone the application of its deforestation regulation, concluding a process that unfolded over recent months among member states, the European Parliament and the Commission. The measure recalibrates the EU regulation on deforestation free products, also known as the EUDR, and moves the deadline for its application by one year to 30 December 2026 for most operators, with a further extension to mid 2027 for smaller businesses. The revision was adopted to adjust the regulatory framework originally agreed in 2023, with the objective of easing the administrative burden associated with due diligence requirements and allowing more time for authorities, operators and traders to prepare for compliance. Council documents emphasise changes to streamline due diligence obligations and to remove low risk printed products from the scope of the law, measures aimed at responding to concerns about readiness an...