Tag: WWF

European Commission Expands EUDR Scope to Include Soluble Coffee

Posted on by Qahwa World

Dubai – Qahwa World

The European Commission has unveiled a new package of measures aimed at simplifying the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), while also expanding the regulation to include soluble coffee.

The announcement brings greater clarity to a regulation that has faced repeated delays since it was first proposed in 2021. The EUDR officially entered into force in 2023 and was initially scheduled to apply by the end of 2024. However, concerns from industries and producing countries over preparedness and compliance requirements led to multiple postponements.

The Commission now says it is focused on ensuring the regulation becomes fully operational by 30 December 2026.

As part of the latest revisions, EU officials estimate the simplification measures could lower annual compliance and administrative costs for affected companies by approximately 75 per cent compared with the original framework.

For the coffee sector, one of the most significant developments is the decision to add soluble coffee to the regulation’s scope. Industry representatives believe the move will create more consistent rules across coffee categories and strengthen fair competition within the European market.

Eileen Gordon-Laity, Secretary General of the European Coffee Federation, said the inclusion of soluble coffee would support equal treatment across the sector while reinforcing the environmental objectives of the regulation. She noted that aligned requirements are important for companies preparing for compliance ahead of the implementation deadline.

The updated package also includes changes to the EUDR digital system, with simplified paperwork requirements for smaller producers such as farmers and foresters.

Meanwhile, companies placing products on the market for the first time, including coffee roasters and major importers, will continue to face full due diligence obligations. Businesses further down the supply chain will mainly be responsible for collecting supplier reference numbers rather than independently verifying compliance.

The Commission also proposed removing leather and retreaded tyres from the regulation’s scope. Certain packaging materials, waste products, and product samples would also receive exemptions. In addition, several palm oil derivatives are expected to be added alongside soluble coffee.

Environmental groups have called on the European Union to avoid further delays in implementing the law. Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove from WWF’s European Policy Office said the regulation must now move from discussion to action, warning that continued postponements could weaken both enforcement efforts and environmental credibility.

The draft Delegated Act is open for public feedback until 1 June 2026.

 

EU Eases EUDR Rules to Ensure Smooth Rollout by 2025

Posted on by Qahwa World

Brussels – Qahwa World

The European Commission has announced adjustments to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aimed at ensuring its timely implementation by 30 December 2025. The changes include lighter reporting requirements, deadline extensions for small businesses, and simplified due diligence obligations to reduce administrative complexity and IT system strain.

The EUDR, which targets commodities linked to deforestation such as coffee, cocoa, palm oil, paper, and wood, will require importers to prove that their products have not contributed to forest degradation anywhere in the world after 31 December 2020. Initially scheduled for December 2024, the regulation was postponed by one year to give coffee producers and other stakeholders additional time to comply.

Under the updated proposal introduced on 21 October 2025, micro and small enterprises will receive an additional 12-month extension to 30 December 2026. Large and medium-sized companies must still meet the 30 December 2025 deadline but will benefit from a six-month grace period for checks and enforcement. To streamline the process, the Commission will now require only a single due diligence statement across a product’s entire supply chain, easing the burden for businesses and simplifying data management within the EU’s internal systems.

The revised framework maintains that “upstream” operators—those first placing regulated commodities on the EU market—will continue to exercise due diligence. “Downstream” operators, typically traders handling products already imported into the EU, will no longer be obligated to submit separate compliance statements.

Environmental groups have cautiously welcomed the move, seeing it as a pragmatic step to avoid further delays, though some have expressed concern that the changes could weaken the regulation’s impact. “We reiterate our call to address the specific challenges millions of smallholders face in producing EUDR-compliant products and the disproportionate burden placed on their shoulders,” the Rainforest Alliance said in a statement.

The WWF offered a stronger critique, calling the decision “a shameful surrender to political pressure.” Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, Senior Forest Policy Officer at WWF, said the Commission’s reference to IT system issues “feels like a perfect scapegoat to water down the regulation.”

The proposed amendments will still need formal approval by the European Parliament and the European Council before implementation. If adopted, they would mark a significant shift in how the EU enforces environmental due diligence, with major implications for global trade in deforestation-linked commodities, including coffee.