The European Parliament has approved a one-year delay in the implementation of the EU Zero Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which has drawn criticism from environmental groups, such as the Indonesian Civil Society Coalition (Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Indonesia) and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia).
The EU Zero Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was scheduled to come into effect on the 30th of December 2024, has been postponed to the 30th of December 2025 for large companies and the 30th of June 2025 for micro, small, and medium enterprises. This decision was taken by the European Commission on the 2nd of October and reinforced by a vote in the European Parliament on the 14th of November.
EUDR is a policy framework designed to address and mitigate the environmental impacts of deforestation. It is an integral part of the EU Green Deal and aligns with the broader EU strategy to protect forests worldwide. The regulation sets out criteria for which products can be classified as deforestation-free and requires companies to implement sustainable sourcing practices, as well as traceability measures, to ensure that their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation.
The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition, consisting of 45 non-governmental organisations, farmer and plantation worker unions, Indigenous peoples’ organisations, local communities, and women’s and youth representatives in Indonesia, criticised the delay in the EUDR’s implementation.
“This is the context to why we need the EUDR: we do not have any specific regulation or law that prohibits deforestation. We also allow legal deforestation which is clearly contradictory to the FOLU [Forest and Other Land Uses] target [back] in 2023. We also have a quota for deforestation,” remarked environmental activist Andi Muttaqien, who is also the chairman of the Indonesian Civil Society Coalition, as quoted from the press on Friday, the 29th of November.
Meanwhile, the Forest and Garden Campaign Manager of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment, Uli Arta Siagian, also regretted the delay in the implementation of the EUDR by the European Union Parliament. According to Siagian, such strong regulations are needed to free Indonesia from deforestation.
“The EUDR could be an opportunity to improve governance in producer countries, one of which is Indonesia. And when it is implemented, we can also test this law: is it strong enough or not? Or, is its implementation running or not? If it is postponed, then we cannot challenge this regulation. How can we challenge and make the EUDR a tool for advocacy for improving palm oil governance and other commodities in Indonesia if it has not been implemented and got postponed instead?” Siagian remarked.