The European Union announced it will postpone the launch of its anti-deforestation law for a second time, pushing enforcement back by another year. Originally scheduled to take effect on December 30, the law was designed to block imports of commodities such as soy, beef, and palm oil unless companies could demonstrate that their supply chains were free from deforestation. Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall confirmed the delay, attributing it to the need for further development of the IT systems required to process and verify compliance data.

The law, hailed as a world-first policy to tackle the roughly 10% of global deforestation linked to EU consumption, has faced resistance from major trading partners including Brazil, Indonesia, and the United States. Industry groups argue that compliance with the stringent traceability requirements will drive up costs and limit exports, while some EU member states, including Poland and Austria, have raised concerns that European producers themselves may struggle to meet the rules. A letter from the Commission warned that the current IT infrastructure risked “slowing down to unacceptable levels,” potentially disrupting trade flows if implemented prematurely.

Environmental campaigners expressed strong disappointment with the decision, emphasizing the urgency of taking action against forest loss. Nicole Polsterer of Fern said, “Every day this law is delayed equates to more forests razed, more wildfires, and more extreme weather.” The European Parliament and member states must still approve the proposed delay, but critics argue that each postponement weakens the EU’s credibility in advancing its green agenda and reduces the immediate impact of its flagship sustainability measures.