The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is expected to face another delay. The last time we were here, at the end of 2024, it was because many corporate players were apparently not ready. This time it’s because the European Commission isn’t ready either. The Commission has proposed a delay, which, if supported by the Council and Parliament, will mean another year goes by without the EUDR coming into effect.
Farmers have been left to pick up the slack of the EUDR
The irony here is that we didn’t offer a delay or deferment to the smallholder farmers across the world who are at the heart of this process. These farmers, who feed the world, who face serious challenges, from poverty and harsh working conditions to climate change and a complicated regulatory environment, were expected to be ready on time. No ifs and buts. At Solidaridad we can’t help but wonder if such a delay would have been on the cards if it were only the farmers who needed it.
We don’t need to get into the question of whether this delay is actually necessary or not. We don’t need to tell the Commission about the importance of protecting our forests and environments. And we don’t need to remind you that most of Europe’s leading corporations are vocally behind the EUDR as a fair measure that will create a level playing field.
We just want to remind all of the decision-makers in this process, from the European Parliament to the Member States, that many small farmers with limited resources and less power are getting ready for the EUDR. Delaying should not be necessary. The Commission could instead proactively use the time available now to develop a robust package of support for the impacted smallholders, as they sort out their technical issues.
But, if there is going to be another delay, let’s make it worth their while. The EUDR was always scant on support for smallholders and their communities, even though they were expected to pick up the slack on getting the EUDR into working order.
Farmers need to be put at the heart of EUDR
We urge the Commission to use this potential further delay to develop a better package of support for the impacted smallholders. There should be support available to farmers who need to train on sustainable agricultural practices and getting IT systems organised, preferably in cooperation with governmental entities, ensuring costs of compliance and traceability do not land on their shoulders. Also, there should be greater financial resources made available to reward countries for keeping forests standing.
We also shouldn’t punish those frontrunning companies that are driving efforts to improve their value chains. These companies have put the time and resources into understanding where their materials come from and building more responsible procurement practices that support their suppliers in complying with these forest saving regulations. These companies should be applauded for taking the lead, not disadvantaged in favour of those few corporations that have spent more energy on trying to dilute the regulation rather than comply with it.
We can’t do this forever
We can keep delaying the EUDR again and again, but the forests won’t last forever. And neither will the communities that rely on them. So if we are delaying once more, let’s make this the final delay, and let’s make it count. While the Commission is fixing its IT system, it shouldn’t forget to fix the EUDR for smallholder farmers. Many farmers are ready for the EUDR, let’s make sure the EUDR is ready for them.