Bertram Kawlath

German equipment manufacturers are calling for an urgent revision and a two-year postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), warning that the law’s complexity could severely disrupt supply chains and harm European industry. Describing the regulation as “bureaucratic madness,” the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association, or VDMA, argues that its implementation would overload companies with impractical documentation requirements. The EUDR is scheduled to apply to large companies from December 30, 2025, and to SMEs from June 30, 2026. The VDMA warns that ensuring such full traceability is technically and logistically impossible for many firms, especially small and mid-sized ones operating in global supply chains. …The association states that the EUDR, in its current form, risks triggering delivery disruptions and weakening the international competitiveness of European firms. It also criticizes the regulation for requiring not only importers but also all downstream companies in the supply chain to meet full due diligence and declaration requirements.