EUDR: European Commission publishes its “simplification package"

During the 41st meeting of the EUDR Multi-Stakeholder Platform on 8 May 2026, the European Commission presented a set of measures designed to clarify and streamline the implementation of the Regulation. The presentation identified six main components: a report to the European Parliament and the Council, updated FAQs, revised Guidance, a draft implementing act on the Information System, a draft delegated act amending Annex I, and new communication tools on supply chains.

FAQ Version 5 focused on the December 2025 amendments

The new FAQ version (V5) mainly incorporates the legislative amendments adopted at the end of 2025. It clarifies the new roles introduced for downstream supply chains, the functioning of micro or small primary operators (MSPOs), and “dual-role” situations where the same legal entity imports and transforms products.

Among the key clarifications are:

• the role of the “first downstream operator”;
• the lighter obligations for downstream operators and traders;
• export and re-import cases;
• simplified declaration modalities for MSPOs;
• e-commerce situations;
• and the role of cooperatives and associations.

The FAQ also confirms the revised application timeline:

• 30 December 2026 for large and medium-sized companies;
• 30 June 2027 for most micro and small enterprises.

More detailed Guidance on legality and certification

The updated Guidance document is probably the most significant element of the package. Beyond incorporating the December 2025 amendments, the Commission used this revision to clarify several long-standing areas of uncertainty within the EUDR.

The document provides important explanations regarding the legality criterion and simplified due diligence. It introduces a risk-based and proportionate approach: where the initial information available indicates a negligible risk of non-compliance, operators will not be required to systematically collect extensive supporting evidence. Operators may rely on:

• country benchmarking;
• World Bank Governance Indicators;
• existing knowledge of their supply chains;
• public reports;
• and future centralized repositories of national legislation.

Another major development concerns certification. The Commission announced the creation of a centralized repository of certification and third-party verification schemes, to be populated directly by the schemes themselves.

The Guidance also explains how certification and third-party verification systems may be used to support risk assessment and mitigation. It outlines criteria for evaluating the robustness of such systems, including:

• the quality of standards;
• governance structures;
• implementation mechanisms;
• and safeguards against mixing with products of unknown origin.

Although this does not create a formal “green lane,” it represents a significant positive signal regarding the recognition of certification within due diligence systems.

The Guidance also clarifies several important technical notions:

• the definition of “agricultural use”;
• exceptions to forest conversion (such as ecological restoration, wildfire prevention, or renewable energy deployment);
• agroforestry systems;
• and the notion of supply-chain complexity.

A draft delegated act on product scope

The Commission also published a draft delegated act amending Annex I of the EUDR, which defines the list of products covered by the Regulation.

The proposal includes:

• technical clarifications and exemptions (waste, second-hand products, samples, transport packaging, etc.);
• the inclusion of certain processed products to avoid loopholes;
• and the removal of products considered to present limited deforestation relevance.

For the timber sector, no major changes to the product scope are currently proposed.

The draft act is open for public consultation until 1 June 2026, before its expected adoption during summer 2026.

A progressively strengthened Information System

The Commission also detailed upcoming improvements to the EUDR Information System. New functionalities will include:

• simplified declarations;
• registration of new operator roles;
• voluntary grouping of declarations;
• and technical improvements to enhance performance and user-friendliness.

The implementation timeline foresees:

• publication of API technical specifications in May 2026;
• gradual reopening of the system from June 2026;
• and deployment of additional functionalities during summer 2026.

What does this mean for the tropical timber sector?

For stakeholders in the tropical forest and timber sector, these measures do not fundamentally change the core obligations of the EUDR.

Suppliers from producer countries will still need to provide:

• precise geolocation data;
• evidence of legality;
• and proof that products are deforestation- and forest degradation-free after 31 December 2020.

European importers remain fully responsible for conducting due diligence and submitting due diligence statements in the EU Information System.

However, downstream operators and traders now benefit from significant simplifications: they no longer need to conduct full due diligence or submit new declarations.

The newly created MSPO category mainly appears relevant for small European producers and is expected to have limited practical impact for small producers in third countries.

Key upcoming milestones

Several important milestones are now approaching:

• 1 June 2026: end of the public consultation on the delegated act;
• Summer 2026: expected adoption of the delegated act and rollout of additional Information System functionalities;
• Before the end of 2026: launch of centralized repositories for national legislation and certification schemes;
• 30 December 2026: general application date of the EUDR;
• 30 June 2027: deferred application date for certain small companies;
• 30 June 2030: overall review of the EUDR by the European Commission.

Overall, this “simplification package” confirms the Commission’s intention to facilitate EUDR implementation while maintaining the core objectives of the Regulation. According to the Commission, the various simplification measures could reduce administrative compliance costs by approximately 75% compared to the original EUDR framework.

ATIBT will continue analysing these new provisions and their practical implications for the tropical timber sector. Several points still require further clarification and technical discussions are expected to continue in the coming months. ATIBT remains available to support its members in their EUDR compliance efforts and to discuss the practical implications of these new developments.