EUDR Amendments — The Omnibus Simplification Proposal

The Omnibus Proposal — Simplifying the EUDR

On 26 February 2025, the European Commission published a legislative simplification package known as the Omnibus, which includes proposed amendments to several regulations, including the EUDR. The proposal comes in response to criticism from industry, member states and third countries, who considered the original requirements of the regulation to be excessively bureaucratic and difficult to implement.

What the Omnibus Proposes for the EUDR

• Simplified requirements for low-risk countries: Operators sourcing exclusively from countries classified as having low deforestation risk could benefit from reduced due diligence obligations. Instead of full checks, a simplified declaration would suffice.
• De minimis thresholds: The proposal introduces thresholds below which very small operators would be exempt from the strictest requirements. This could help small forest owners in Romania and other small-scale operators.
• Geolocation flexibility: Instead of GPS coordinates for each plot, references at the level of forest management unit or concession could be accepted for supplies from low-risk countries.
• Postponed benchmarking list publication: The Commission committed to publishing the country classification list well before the compliance deadline, but the Omnibus proposal could modify this timeline.
• Recognition of certification schemes: Existing certification systems (FSC, PEFC) could be recognised as due diligence elements, reducing the administrative burden on operators.

Political Context

The Omnibus proposal reflects a real tension in European politics between the environmental ambitions of the European Green Deal and pressure to reduce bureaucracy affecting economic competitiveness. Several member states, led by Austria, Finland and Sweden — all with strong forestry industries — have been vocal in demanding simplification of the EUDR.

In the European Parliament, the EPP group (European People's Party, the largest political group) has supported substantial amendments, with some MEPs calling for a complete overhaul of the regulation. Conversely, centre-left groups and the Greens have warned that excessive simplification could hollow out the regulation.

Reactions to the Omnibus Proposal

Environmental NGOs, including WWF and Greenpeace, have criticised the proposal as a step backwards from the EU's climate commitments. Industry, on the other hand, has welcomed the general direction while calling for more clarity and a realistic implementation timeline. See detailed stakeholder reactions.

Current Status of Negotiations

The Omnibus proposal follows the ordinary legislative procedure: the European Parliament and the Council of the EU must negotiate and adopt the final text. The process is expected to take at least 6 to 12 months from the publication of the proposal. During this period, the original EUDR text remains in force with existing deadlines (see the deadline tracker).

It is possible that Omnibus negotiations will lead to additional changes beyond the Commission's initial proposal. Some member states want even more aggressive simplification, while others seek to maintain the integrity of the environmental objectives.

For the complete text of the regulation in its current form, see the legal analysis on eudr.live. To prepare regardless of the negotiation outcome, access the practical guides on eudr.solutions.