Automotive industry urges one-year delay to EU Deforestation Regulation

CLEPA, ACEA, and VDA are urging the European Commission to delay the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by one year, citing legal uncertainty and operational challenges for automotive manufacturers. The current proposal, while aiming to simplify compliance, introduces complex amendments and an unreliable grace period, forcing companies to prepare for two regulatory frameworks simultaneously – an impractical task for global supply chains.

We also highlight unresolved issues in the proposal, including burdensome requirements like generating thousands of identifiers per order. We call for clearer guidance, legal clarifications, and cost-reducing measures such as exemptions for prototypes and a “de minimis” threshold. A one-year postponement is essential to ensure realistic compliance and effective implementation of the regulation’s environmental goals.