Civil society organizations around the world — including EPN and our members and partners — are calling on the European Union to deliver a strong, on-time EU Deforestation Regulation. With pressure to delay or weaken the law mounting, now is the moment to turn advocacy into action and ensure the EUDR protects forests, communities, and the climate.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a groundbreaking step to ensure that products entering or leaving the EU do not contribute to forest destruction. In recent weeks, the European Commission has faced calls from some governments, industries, and trade partners to postpone the regulation’s start date or soften its requirements. In response, hundreds of organizations have spoken out — from environmental groups to human rights advocates and producer-country coalitions — reminding EU leaders that the credibility of Europe’s climate and biodiversity commitments depends on this law moving forward as planned.
Groups have signed open letters to President von der Leyen and Member States, insisting there must be no more delays or loopholes. As Fern and others have highlighted, every year of hesitation means more forest loss, more carbon emissions, and deeper harm to Indigenous and local communities. Many businesses have already invested in the systems needed to trace and verify supply chains, showing that implementation is not only possible but already underway.
The message from civil society is clear: the EU must deliver a strong, fair, and on-time deforestation law. That means resisting political pressure, ensuring transparent enforcement, and providing support for smallholders and producers to comply.
EPN and our network stand alongside our partners across continents in calling for leadership and resolve. The EUDR represents a major step toward sustainable global trade — and the world is watching to see Europe follow through. Now is the moment to turn pressure into progress. Together, we must ensure the EUDR is not a hollow promise, but a credible pathway toward sustainable supply chains, forest protection, and climate justice.
Read more and support these calls to action:
- EIA: U.S. civil society groups urge EU not to cave in to U.S. pressure on deforestation law
- Fern: Letter: NGOs against additional delays to the EU Deforestation Regulation
Take action:
- Amplify these letters among Brussels institutions, national governments, and networks
- Engage ministries and parliaments to resist weakening amendments or delays
- Mobilize voices — forest communities, farmers, Indigenous groups, and consumers — to speak in support
- Track and report attempts to dilute or postpone EUDR implementation
- Support capacity building in producer countries to ensure inclusive compliance