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Deforestation Regulation: certain obligations of operators and traders

TA-10-2025-0295 · P10_TA(2025)0295 · PE780.035

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products changes the obligations of operators and traders. It creates a new category of 'micro and small primary operators' in low-risk countries, exempts them from due diligence statements and lets them submit a one-time simplified declaration. It postpones the application of the Regulation's obligations by 12 months, to 30 December 2026, and adjusts related dates. It requires the Commission to carry out a simplification review and present a report by 30 April 2026. It deletes the rules on warnings for non-compliance and on communicating reference numbers to downstream operators.

Key points

  1. Non-SME downstream operators and traders must still register in the information system; only the first downstream operator must collect and keep reference numbers of due diligence statements.
  2. A new sub-category, 'micro and small primary operators', covers natural persons or micro- or small-sized enterprises in low-risk countries who place on the market or export products they themselves produce there.
  3. Micro and small primary operators may replace the geolocation of plots of land with the postal address of the plots or establishment.
  4. The definition of micro and small primary operators includes operators exceeding two of three criteria of Directive 2013/34/EU if their activities covered by the Regulation stay below those limits.
  5. The Commission must carry out a simplification review and present a report by 30 April 2026, indicating ways to address issues and, where appropriate, a legislative proposal.
  6. The date of application of the obligations on operators, traders and competent authorities is postponed by 12 months.
  7. Micro and small primary operators are exempt from the obligations in Article 4(2), the second sentence of Article 4(3) and Article 4(4), point (c).
  8. Micro and small primary operators must submit a one-time simplified declaration before placing products on the market or exporting, and receive a declaration identifier.
  9. Where all Annex III information is available in another system or database, micro and small primary operators need not submit a simplified declaration, but must still be assigned a declaration identifier.
  10. Downstream operators and traders may place products on the market or export them only if they possess the required information, including supplier details and reference numbers only when the supplier is an operator.
  11. The reference number or declaration identifier must be made available to customs before release for free circulation or export, except for exports by downstream operators.
  12. Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 is repealed from 30 December 2026, with continued application until 31 December 2029 for certain timber products produced before 29 June 2023.

Who is affected

  • Micro and small primary operators in low-risk countries: exempt from due diligence statements and may use postal addresses instead of geolocation.
  • Downstream operators and traders: must register, keep information, and provide reference numbers only if their supplier is an operator.
  • Operators and traders established as micro or small undertakings by 31 December 2024: their obligations apply from 30 June 2027.
  • Competent authorities: must communicate IT difficulties to the Commission and consider information to avoid sanctions.
  • The Commission: must carry out a simplification review and report by 30 April 2026, and establish a permanent stakeholder group.

Figures and deadlines

  • 30 April 2026: deadline for the Commission's simplification review report.
  • 12 months: postponement of the date of application of obligations.
  • 30 December 2026: new date of application for Articles 3 to 13, 16 to 24, 26, 31 and 32.
  • 30 June 2027: date of application for operators established as micro or small undertakings by 31 December 2024.
  • 30 December 2026: date of repeal of Regulation (EU) No 995/2010.
  • 31 December 2029: continued application of Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 for timber products produced before 29 June 2023 and placed on the market from 30 December 2026.
  • 31 December 2029: date from which timber products produced before 29 June 2023 and placed on the market must comply with Article 3.
  • 30 June 2030: date of the general review of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115.