European Forestry Pulse #27 🌲

Hello,

The European Commission wants to delay EUDR again. Industry is in chaos. But here's what matters: December 30, 2025 is still the legal enforcement date. No delay has been approved. No formal proposal even exists yet.

Meanwhile, three major UK sawmillers just united to cut the country's €9 billion timber import bill. And Norway's softwood exports to the EU surged 58% in eight months.

Here's what's moving European forestry this week:

The European Commission sent a letter. Industry panicked. Social media exploded with misinformation. Companies started "downing tools" on compliance. But the legal reality is simple: EUDR enforcement on December 30, 2025 has not changed.

What actually happened: Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall sent letters to Parliament and Council on October 2. She said the Commission is considering proposing a one-year delay to December 30, 2026. The reason: TRACES IT system cannot handle expected data volumes. Risk of "unacceptable slowdowns" or "long-lasting disruptions."

What didn't happen: No formal proposal. No vote. No legal change. The regulation remains law with the original deadline.

Why this matters: The Commission cannot delay EUDR alone. They're the executive branch. EUDR is law. To change an enforcement date requires the legislative branch - both Parliament and Council - to vote and agree. This takes time Europe doesn't have.

The timeline problem: Only three plenary sessions remain in 2025. EUDR isn't on the next agenda. The Commission hasn't made a formal proposal yet. Parliament and Council must both vote. If they disagree, it goes to "trilogue" - where all three institutions negotiate compromise. Last year's delay was agreed December 17-18. Any change this year will be last minute. Or won't happen at all.

Industry is divided: Major food companies - Nestlé, Ferrero, Mars, Olam Agri - wrote a joint letter October 2 opposing delay. They say it would "undermine confidence in EU climate goals" and "erode trust in environmental policy." These companies already invested heavily in compliance systems.

But agricultural associations want delay. They say timelines are unfeasible. Market disruptions loom.

Timber companies are split. Only 39% report being on track for compliance. German industry faces €1.8 billion in initial costs plus €1.2 billion annually. Finnish research projects €207 million startup costs and €65 million yearly.

Yet some companies are ready. Stora Enso's Packaging Division hit EUDR readiness a year early through digital traceability platforms.

NGOs strongly oppose any delay. WWF called it "the dog ate my homework" excuse. Mighty Earth and others say the Commission is caving to political pressure from US and Indonesian trade negotiations.

Three possible scenarios:

Key point: In all scenarios, EUDR remains. The regulation isn't being eliminated. Requirements aren't changing substantially. Only the timeline might shift.

What happened last year: The original enforcement date was December 2024. Parliament voted December 17. Council voted December 18. Published December 23. Everything at the absolute last minute. Expect the same pattern if change happens.

The recommendation: Keep working on compliance. Companies that "downed tools" during last year's delay discussion ended up in worse position when they restarted. The data collection takes months. Supplier engagement takes time. System integration isn't instant.

Use the uncertainty to build resilience. Even if delay happens, strong supply chain visibility helps with tariffs, other due diligence requirements, and market disruptions.

The legal reality: Until Parliament and Council vote to change it, December 30, 2025 remains the enforcement date. Companies are legally required to be ready. Political noise doesn't change legal obligation.

What this means for you: Ignore the speculation. Watch for formal proposal from Commission. Then track Parliament and Council votes. Until all three institutions agree and publish changes in the Official Journal, the current deadline stands. Continue compliance work. The companies investing now will be ready regardless of outcome. Source: LiveEO EUDR Briefing Video, Nadar Earth, Trusty Compliance

BSW Timber, James Jones & Sons, and Glennon Brothers announced a landmark partnership on October 13. The goal: promote UK-grown C16 timber and slash reliance on imports. The UK is the world's second-largest net importer of forest products. 80% of requirements - €9 billion worth - come from overseas annually. Backed by Confor and Timber Development UK, the initiative supports the UK Government's Timber in Construction Roadmap. Minister for Nature Mary Creagh was direct: "Our Plan for Change is focused on creating new, green jobs, planting more trees, increasing access to nature and reducing carbon emissions. We currently import 80% of the timber we use and that needs to change." The collaboration aligns with national goals for decarbonization, economic growth, and forestry expansion. Three major sawmillers competing on price but united on principle: British timber for British construction.

The takeaway: UK domestic timber push has industry and government backing. Watch for procurement preferences and expanded planting programs. Source: BSW Group, Builders Merchants Journal

Minister for Nature Mary Creagh announced on October 14 that Grown in Britain certification now meets Category A status under UK Government Timber Procurement Policy. This gives Grown in Britain equal recognition with FSC and PEFC for the first time. Full access to public sector projects. Barriers removed. CEO Dougal Driver said it clearly: "Our robust certification now has official verification at the highest level, which will transform the fortunes of current and potential certificate holders." The decision ends decades of British-certified timber being locked out of government procurement and major construction projects. Category A status means British forestry competes on equal footing for schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

The takeaway: UK certification just got government seal of approval. Domestic timber sector gains major competitive advantage for public projects. Source: Timber Development UK

Copernicus reported more than one million hectares burned by early October. That's triple the European average for 2006-2024. The area equals one-third the size of Belgium. 35% occurred in forests. Italy led with 589 fires. Spain had 322. Romania 489. Portugal 184. France 249. Bulgaria 92. Greece 65. At least 10 people died. Economic losses: €2 billion annually according to European Court of Auditors. Emissions: 42 million tonnes of CO₂ and 80 kilotonnes of methane in 2025 alone. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre deployed over 670 firefighters from 14 European countries. The rescEU fleet - planes and helicopters - proved critical. The Commission announced plans for a European Climate Resilience Plan by end of 2026.

The takeaway: Wildfire season 2025 shattered all records. Fire prevention and climate adaptation are now existential issues for European forestry. Source: FIRE-RES

German wood processor Rettenmeier opened a major sawmill in Inčukalns, Latvia on October 13. The Baltic Timber plant features planned cutting capacity exceeding one million solid cubic meters of logs per year. Supported by sorting system, planing mill, and pellet plant with integrated biomass cogeneration and waste heat recovery. Latvia's dense forests provide direct access to high-quality spruce and pine. The wood is valued for high density, fine growth rings, and small branches. Managing Director Rolands Rimicāns: "This investment is a clear commitment to our location in Inčukalns and the unique raw materials that are available to us here in the heart of the Baltic region."

The takeaway: German processors continue expanding in Baltic states. Superior raw material access drives location decisions. Source: Global Wood

The EU imported 4,004 thousand m³ of softwood logs from Norway in the first eight months of 2025. Up 58% from 2,542 thousand m³ in the same period of 2024. Total value nearly doubled to €411 million. Eurostat data published October 2 shows both higher volumes and substantial price growth across key markets. This demonstrates significant price pressure in European softwood markets as demand increases while domestic supply faces constraints. Sawmill profitability across the EU takes the hit.

The takeaway: Norwegian timber flooding EU markets signals domestic supply shortages. Monitor regional price pressures if you're buying or selling softwood. Source: Global Wood

Germany launched a national carbon dioxide removal procurement program. This could set a global precedent for CDR markets. The European Commission published plans for an EU-level scheme to buy permanent carbon removals. Brussels wants to create its own demand rather than just certify projects. For the first time, Germany folded carbon capture and storage into industrial policy. The UK set a timeline to bring carbon removals into its carbon trading system by 2029. Next year, the European Commission will publish a report on integrating carbon removals into the EU ETS.

The takeaway: Government procurement for carbon removal creates new revenue opportunities for sustainable forest management. Early movers gain advantage. Source: Carbon Direct, Milkywire

October 22-23, 2025: 73rd International Softwood Conference in Oslo. Global wood industry market trends discussion.

October 23, 2025: Stora Enso Q3 results webcast at 8:30 EEST. Updates expected on nature-positive framework and EUDR readiness.

October 26-31, 2025: FSC General Assembly in Panama City. Traceability and integrity debates expected. Major policy decisions on Intact Forest Landscapes.

October 27-31, 2025: 61st International Tropical Timber Council session in Panama City.

November, 2025: COP30 Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil. The "forest COP" - expect major focus on forest carbon and REDD+.

Contact your EUDR software provider. Don't wait for delay clarity. Ask three questions:

The companies that kept working during last year's delay came out ahead. Take 30 minutes this week. You'll thank yourself in December regardless of what happens in Brussels.

Until Thursday!

Wish you all the best: Peter

P.S. What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in forestry right now?
Hit reply and let me know — I read every message personally.

P. P. S. Know a forest professional who’s drowning in EUDR complexity or missing out on timber market shifts? Forward this email to them!

📩 Got this email forwarded to you? Subscribe to ForestryBrief here.

📚 Missed an issue? Browse the ForestryBrief archive

If you like FB be sure to subscribe to Boreal Tech Brief, a newsletter of my friend Axel covering tech in forestry with a Nordic angle: