Ireland’s gov.ie portal has published important new guidance on the EU Deforestation Regulation, a rule set that will affect importers, exporters and supply chains across agriculture, timber and food. For Irish businesses dealing in cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee or rubber, the EU Deforestation Regulation is now a key compliance issue with new deadlines, system changes and legislation updates to watch.
The update from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirms that Ireland is continuing preparations as the regulation moves toward application. It also highlights recent EU and national developments, including the reopening of the Information System, a simplification package from the European Commission, and progress on Ireland’s Deforestation and Forest Degradation Bill 2026.
EU Deforestation Regulation: what changed in Ireland and the EU
On 7 August 2026, Minister Martin Heydon received Cabinet approval to move forward with the Deforestation and Forest Degradation Bill 2026, including drafting and pre-legislative scrutiny. That step signals how seriously the Irish state is treating enforcement and implementation through gov.ie and the wider public administration system.
Earlier, on 13 July 2026, the European Commission adopted:
- A Delegated Act updating the product scope
- An Implementing Act covering technical rules for the EUDR Information System
The revised scope removes some products, including cattle hides, skins and leather, re-threaded tyres, soybeans for sowing and certain rubber goods. At the same time, it adds products such as soluble coffee, some palm oil derivatives and frozen cattle tongues. Newly added products will become subject to the regulation from 30 December 2027.
In June 2026, the EUDR Information System also reopened, including registration for new accounts. This is a major practical step for operators that must file due diligence statements or simplified declarations.
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Who the EU Deforestation Regulation applies to
The EU Deforestation Regulation covers businesses that place relevant commodities on the EU market for the first time or export them. The policy is designed to reduce the EU’s contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation.
To comply, covered products must be:
- Deforestation-free
- Produced in line with the laws of the country of origin
- Supported by a due diligence statement
Deforestation-free means the goods must not come from land deforested after 31 December 2020. For timber, forest degradation after that date is also prohibited.
Key application dates for businesses
The latest amendments postponed application by one year for all businesses. The current timetable means:
- Large and medium upstream operators: due diligence statements from 30 December 2026
- Micro and small operators for EUTR-covered products: 30 December 2026
- Micro and small operators in other sectors: 30 June 2027
- Downstream operators: collection of reference numbers from 30 December 2026
The changes also reduce burdens in some areas. Printed products have been removed from scope, and micro or small primary operators can use a one-time simplified declaration through the system.
EUDR Information System and Ireland’s compliance preparation
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine remains Ireland’s competent authority, working alongside the wider state framework that includes bodies familiar to businesses such as the Revenue Commissioners, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Health Service Executive (HSE), An Garda Síochána and departments spanning Finance, Housing, Justice, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Education, Climate Action and Transport. For companies navigating regulation on gov.ie, the EUDR is becoming another major operational requirement.
Businesses should now prioritise:
- Checking whether their products remain in scope
- Registering on the EUDR Information System
- Reviewing supply-chain traceability and sourcing records
- Understanding whether they qualify for simplified declarations
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What businesses should do next
The clearest takeaway is that the EU Deforestation Regulation is no longer a distant policy discussion. With legal drafting advancing in Ireland, technical systems reopening and EU product rules being refined, affected businesses should act now rather than wait for the final deadline.
For anyone tracking compliance through gov.ie, the EU Deforestation Regulation should be treated as a priority project touching procurement, sourcing, customs, documentation and risk management. Early preparation will be the difference between a smooth transition and a costly compliance scramble.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
