MEPs raise concerns over EUDR impact on SMEs: call for delay and adjustment
A group of Members of the European Parliament has addressed a letter to President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Jessika Roswall, highlighting serious concerns about the current implementation of the EUDR (Regulation EU 2023/1115).
While the aim of preventing deforestation is fully supported, the MEPs warn that the regulation in its current form risks placing disproportionate burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises—without delivering the intended environmental results.
Key issues raised in the letter include:
- Technically unrealistic traceability and geolocation requirements
- Lack of legal certainty across Member States
- Potential exposure of commercially sensitive data
- Redundant reporting due to overlaps with existing regulations
The MEPs call on the Commission to:
- Delay full implementation until core issues are resolved
- Introduce simplified compliance options or exemptions for SMEs and low-risk regions
- Establish a “zero-risk countries” category, as adopted by the European Parliament in November 2024
- Incorporate existing certification schemes and national systems to reduce duplication
Read the full letter here.
