Brussels (May 5, 2026) — The European Commission has released the results of its simplification review of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aimed at making compliance easier for companies and enforcement agencies across the EU.Crucially, the plan does not alter the core legal text of the EUDR — ending months of speculation about late-stage revisions ahead of the December 30, 2026, enforcement deadline. Instead, it focuses on ensuring the law is applied consistently across member states.Following is a statement by Janneke de Vries, EU Director, World Resources Institute: ‘Overall, the Commission has delivered a practical, sensible plan to keep EUDR implementation moving — cutting confusion and paving the way for a deforestation-free market. It zeroes in on where it matters: clear interpretation and practical guidance to help companies, enforcement bodies and partner-country governments remove roadblocks and make EUDR work in practice.’One notable exception is leather, which is proposed to be left out of the scope despite its clear environmental costs, leaving a key deforestation-linked commodity outside the framework.’The stakes could not be higher. Last year, the world lost 4.3 million hectares of tropical primary forest — 11 football fields every minute. Despite having just 7% of the global population, the EU drives up to 16% of deforestation through its imports, giving it a disproportionate responsibility to lead.’The window to prepare is closing fast. With clarity now in place, there is no time to lose: companies must move quickly to build compliance systems and align their supply chains before the December 30 deadline.’