EU Commission proposes targeted measures to ensure EUDR implementation

The Commission wants to make sure that the information technology (IT) system is fully operational to address the EU's contribution to the global challenge of deforestation.

At the same time, the proposal will simplify reporting obligations while maintaining a robust tracking mechanism.

The proposal introduces targeted simplifications to reduce obligations for operators and traders that commercialise the relevant EUDR products once they have been placed on the European Union (EU) market, and micro and small primary operators from low-risk countries worldwide who sell their goods directly on the European market.

The operators and traders can be retailers or large EU manufacturing companies. These companies are in the downstream part of the relevant value chains. The upstream operator will continue to exercise due diligence. The micro and small primary operators cover close to 100 per cent of farmers and foresters in the EU, a release from the Commission said.

To allow for a more efficient use of the IT system, the Commission proposed that downstream operators and traders should no longer be obliged to submit due diligence statements. With this streamlining, only one submission in the EUDR IT system at the entry point in the market will be required for the entire supply chain.

The reporting obligations and the responsibility would be focused on the operators placing first the products on the market.

Micro and small primary operators would only submit a simple, one-off declaration in the EUDR IT system. When the information is already available, for instance in a Member State database, the operators do not have to take any action in the IT System themselves. This simplification replaces the previous need for regular submissions of due diligence statements.

The Commission is also proposing transitional periods to guarantee a smooth transition and strengthen the IT system.

The European Parliament and the Council will now discuss the Commission's proposal. They would need to formally adopt the targeted amendment of the EUDR before it can come into effect.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)