EU member states call for 'no-risk' category

Austria and Luxembourg, supported by nine other Member States including Italy, Finland and Romania, have asked the European Commission to amend the EUDR benchmark law. The main request: the introduction of a no risk-category for countries with a negligible risk of deforestation. Products from these countries would then be exempt from the strict EUDR obligations, such as geolocation and documentation requirements.

According to the petitioners, the current requirements for farmers and forest owners are in many cases unworkable, even after the simplification proposals presented by the Commission in April 2025.

Environment Committee supports objection, plenary vote to follow

On 25 June, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted in favour of the objection to the current EUDR benchmark law: 49 members voted in favour, 37 against. This vote is not binding, but it puts political pressure on the European Commission. The full EU Parliament will consider the issue in the week of 7 July.

Stan Stevens from FSC outlines three possible outcomes:

The European Commission ignores the objection – the EUDR is introduced unchanged.

The Commission accepts the objection – the benchmark law is being amended, which could cause delays.

The Commission withdraws the benchmark law – the implementation of the EUDR will certainly be delayed.

Overview of proposed simplifications

The objecting Member States want the European Commission to implement, among other things, the following adjustments:

Targeted import controls to prevent fraud.

Introducing a 'negligible risk' category, for which no geolocation and controls are required.

Allowing regulated reforestation compensation in non-risk areas.

Controls based on risk analysis, without minimum sampling obligation.

Reduction of reporting obligations to a simple surface area declaration.