Excluding leather from EUDR ‘remains unresolved’
Specialist European Union (EU)-focused news outlet Euractiv has reported that the possible exclusion of leather from the list of products that will have to comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) “remains unresolved”.
The regulation is due to come into application at the end of 2026, but the European Commission has promised a review in April.
In an exclusive report, Euractiv said a closed-door meeting between the European Commission, industry representatives and campaign groups took place in Brussels in mid-February.
It said that two participants in the meeting told it afterwards that the Commission will not review the main text of the regulation, but will consider amending the annex specifying which products fall under the rules.
This is in keeping with a message that industry body COTANCE shared with leather industry representatives in a pesentation at Lineapelle in Milan on February 12.
If there are proposed amendments to the annex, these will be open for public consultation in late March or early April, Euractiv said. It added that changes under consideration include the possible addition of products that are not currently covered by EUDR. These could include instant coffee and soap made from palm oil.
Then it said that the possible exclusion of leather, which some politicians in the European Parliament pushed for in December 2025, “remains unresolved” and will ultimately be a political decision.
Image: Lineapelle.
