23 Sept. 2025: The European Commission is expected to delay the EU’s flagship ban on imported goods linked to deforestation overseas by a year.

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) mandates that products derived from beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, natural rubber, soy or wood must be ‘deforestation-free’ and legally produced to be placed on the EU market.

The burden of complying lies with the importing business.

This affects huge swaths of the packaging supply chain.

Bizarrely, the delay appears to be blamed on the dedicated IT system that will handle data relating to product transactions, which is taking longer than expected, due to the need for handling complex submissions at scale.

Nicole Rycroft, founder & chief executive of environmental non-profit Canopy said the delay creates uncertainty when clarity and momentum are needed.

Canopy works with hundreds of brands globally to help transform supply chains and scale low-impact Next Gen alternatives.

“Forests – and the climate – cannot afford another year of inaction. Every delay risks eroding market confidence, slowing progress, and undermining those companies already moving in good faith to prepare their supply chains.

“Companies must use this delay springboard, not a snooze button. Companies have a critical window to build resiliency in their supply chains: to transition from volatile extractive forest-dependent products to Next Gen, low-impact solutions that reduce risk and strengthen traceability. By moving faster, businesses not only get ahead of regulation, but also respond to growing consumer and investor expectations for leadership and resilience.

By Waqas Qureshi www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/