On 29 December, we took part in a hearing before the EU Policies Committee (XIV) of the Italian Chamber of Deputies on Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation (EUDR), following the additional one-year postponement of its entry into force and the revision currently under discussion at EU level. The hearing contributed to the parliamentary debate at a particularly delicate moment. While the postponement addresses the operational challenges that have emerged, it also raises questions about regulatory certainty and the overall credibility of EU action.

Shared objectives, but implementation is key

Fighting deforestation, protecting biodiversity, and strengthening supply chain transparency and traceability are necessary and widely shared objectives. In a globalised economy, a harmonised European response is essential to address challenges that no single Member State can tackle alone.

At the same time, the effectiveness of the EUDR will largely depend on pragmatic and proportionate implementation, capable of avoiding excessive administrative burdens, regulatory uncertainty, and competitive distortions. 

Regulatory uncertainty and the risk of distortive effects

During the hearing, we highlighted several structural weaknesses of the regulation, including an approach perceived as overly centralised and the limited involvement of supply chains and producer countries in the rule-making process. The double postponement of the entry into force has also reduced the predictability of the regulatory framework, affecting companies’ investment decisions and operators’ confidence. In this context, revising the EUDR is legitimate and necessary, but simplification must not result in a rollback of environmental objectives or a distortive redistribution of burdens across supply chains.