Toute l'actualitéAs the European Commission proposed, at the end of September 2025, to postpone by another year the entry into force of the European Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), Reforest’Action reiterates the urgent need to tackle imported deforestation within the European Union and to act collectively to protect and restore the world’s forests. Both actions are essential and together represent a significant part of the solution to the climate and biodiversity crises.
A Global Emergency: The Unfulfilled Commitment to End Deforestation
Over the past fifteen years, international commitments stressing the urgency of environmental preservation — with forests as a central pillar — have multiplied. From the Bonn Challenge (2011) and the New York Declaration on Forests (2014) to the IPCC report (2018) and the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests (2021), world leaders from more than 140 countries have pledged to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.
Yet despite these pledges, global deforestation continues to accelerate. According to the World Resources Institute, the planet lost 6.7 million hectares of primary tropical forest in 2024, nearly double the 2023 figure. In total, 8.1 million hectares of forest disappeared worldwide last year — an area equivalent to half of England — representing a 5% increase in forest cover loss compared to the previous year.
To meet the global goal of zero deforestation by 2030, annual forest loss must decline by 20%, starting now. As voluntary commitments have proven insufficient, a binding legal framework is now indispensable.
The European Union: A Major Driver of Imported Deforestation
Imported deforestation refers to the destruction of natural ecosystems resulting from the production of agricultural or forest-based commodities destined for international markets. The main commodities concerned include soy, palm oil, and beef, followed by wood products, cocoa, and coffee. The environmental impacts of this consumption are concentrated primarily in South America (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay) and Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia).
According to the WWF report “The continuing impact of EU consumption on nature worldwide”, EU imports caused the destruction of 3.5 million hectares of forest between 2005 and 2017 — representing 1.8 billion tonnes of CO₂, or 40% of the EU’s annual emissions.
While deforestation linked to EU imports fell by about 40% over the same period, the EU remained responsible for 16% of global trade-related deforestation in 2017 — equivalent to 203,000 hectares and 116 million tonnes of CO₂. Only China (24%) ranks higher, followed by India (9%), the United States (7%), and Japan (5%).
Beyond its climate impact, imported deforestation also violates the rights of local communities and Indigenous peoples, whose territories are often converted into agricultural land. It is also linked to at least one-third of global biodiversity loss (IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, 2019).
A Decade of Voluntary Commitments: Efforts Still Falling Short
In response to this alarming trend, numerous initiatives have emerged over the past decade — from international declarations to private-sector “zero deforestation” pledges. However, these voluntary approaches have shown their limits.
The 2024 CDP report Deforestation- and Conversion-Free Supply Chains revealed that few companies have achieved full traceability across their supply chains. To remain aligned with a 1.5°C climate pathway, companies should have eliminated deforestation and ecosystem conversion by 2025 and achieved zero conversion by 2030.
Yet only a coherent and binding European regulation can deliver the necessary scale of change.
European law against deforestation: a Major Step Forward, Undermined by Delays
The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), adopted on June 9, 2023, represents a historic milestone. It aims to ban the sale of products on the EU market that have contributed to deforestation or forest degradation after December 31, 2020. The regulation covers seven key commodities — coffee, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, soy, beef, and wood — as well as related products such as leather, charcoal, and printed paper.
Strong Requirements for Traceability and Transparency
Under the regulation, companies must ensure that products sold in the EU are at no or negligible risk of deforestation. They must: • precisely geolocate the origin of their products down to the production plot; • demonstrate legality in the country of origin and absence of links to deforestation or forest degradation; • conduct due diligence before placing goods on the market. These measures aim to set a new standard: deforestation-free, fully traceable supply chains.
A Robust Framework, Still in Need of Improvement
According to WWF, the regulation provides a solid foundation, but several improvements are needed: • Include all natural ecosystems — such as savannas, wetlands, and mangroves — which are often excluded; • Expand coverage to all relevant derived products, based on scientific criteria; • Guarantee human rights protections, including the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous peoples; • Avoid exemptions such as simplified due diligence for certain countries or companies.
Concerning Delays
Initially scheduled to apply at the end of 2024 (and mid-2025 for SMEs), the law was first delayed to late 2025, and again to late 2026, following the European Commission’s new proposal in September 2025. These repeated delays — justified by a lack of preparedness among Member States and operators — threaten to undermine the momentum for action. For Reforest’Action, it is crucial that EU institutions confirm and uphold the implementation date and support stakeholders in adapting to it, rather than postponing further. Every year of delay means another year of avoidable deforestation.
Acting Collectively for Deforestation-Free Value Chains
The European regulation is a major step forward — but it will only succeed if accompanied by collective action from all economic and political actors. Businesses, in particular, play a decisive role in the transition toward sustainable supply chains.
Zero deforestation and zero conversion must no longer be distant targets, but immediate requirements. Agricultural and forest-based products can only be considered sustainable if they originate from production units that have not converted natural ecosystems since December 31, 2020.
The success of the EUDR will depend on: • transparent supply chains; • cooperation between producer and importer countries; • training and support for smallholders, who are often the most vulnerable to new compliance requirements; • rigorous enforcement and effective penalties for violators.
Finally, combating imported deforestation must go hand in hand with a strategy to restore degraded forests and to develop regenerative agriculture projects within corporate value chains.
The European law against imported deforestation is more than just a legal instrument — it is a lever for systemic transformation. It reflects the European Union’s acknowledgment of its role in global deforestation and its capacity to act to end it. Delaying its implementation means postponing a solution that is ready to be deployed, at a time when warning signs are multiplying. In the face of the climate and ecological emergency, Reforest’Action calls for steadfast commitment, faster implementation of the EUDR, and strong support for businesses on their journey toward more responsible value chains. Would you like to improve your sourcing practices to secure your supply and meet your sustainability goals? Contact us to start the conversation!