WMBC Response to EU Parliament Vote on EUDR
We Mean Business Coalition
We Mean Business Coalition expresses deep concern following yesterday’s vote in the European Parliament to further delay and weaken the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a decision which continues to undermine business confidence in the stability of EU policy making.
By introducing another year-long delay, calling for a review of the regulation in April 2026 before it even comes into effect, and excluding printed products from its scope the Parliament has further undermined a regulation designed to address one of the most urgent global crises: deforestation and nature loss. This outcome, if formally approved before the end of the year, will drastically erode the EU’s credibility on climate and biodiversity leadership and send an unsettling message to businesses that have invested heavily in preparing for compliance.
The voice of progressive business on this issue is clear. Many companies have already built or begun building robust systems for traceability, supplier engagement and sustainable sourcing and just last week, a coalition of more than 30 companies, NGOs and multstakeholder groups from cocoa, coffee & palm oil sectors issued a joint letter underscoring the importance of moving ahead without further delay in EUDR. Yesterday’s vote places these early movers at a disadvantage, creating uncertainty and distorting competition in favor of less-prepared market actors.
A lack of timely, clear and robust regulation now threatens the stability businesses need to manage nature-related risks across their supply chains. It delays progress at a moment when scientific evidence shows we cannot afford setbacks.
We urge EU institutions and Member States to take immediate steps to restore trust and ensure that implementation does not fall further behind. Strong enforcement guidance, firm timelines and a commitment to revisiting the weakened provisions are essential to regain momentum.
Yesterday’s vote was a missed opportunity. Europe has the chance to lead decisively on deforestation and provide the consistency that will allow European companies to gain competitive edge in sustainable supply chains. The European Commission must bring the EUDR back on track to avoid fragmentation and uncertainty at a critical moment for nature, climate and the global economy.