European Forestry Pulse #65 🌲

Hello,

Here's something most operators haven't noticed yet.

The IT system behind the EU Deforestation Regulation went into read-only mode on February 16. No new registrations. No submissions. The training server is completely offline.

The Commission says it will announce a reopening date in mid-April. The system will come back "shortly thereafter."

Meanwhile, the December 30, 2026 deadline for large operators hasn't moved by a single day.

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

On February 16, the European Commission restricted access to the EUDR Information System. The LIVE production server is now in read-only mode. The ACCEPTANCE (training) server is fully offline. No new registrations or submissions can be made on either server.

The system is being upgraded to reflect the amended provisions of Regulation (EU) 2025/2650.

If you're an operator preparing for EUDR compliance, you cannot currently:

You can still view existing data on the LIVE server. That's it.

The Commission says it will communicate the exact reopening date in mid-April 2026. The system will reopen "shortly thereafter." There is no firm end date.

That means the system could be offline for two months or longer. Nobody knows for sure.

This matters because of what else is happening in April.

The Commission confirmed at its February 10 Expert Group meeting that a simplification review package is due by April 30, 2026. This includes FAQ updates, delegated acts, and IT system improvements.

The Commission described these changes as "targeted tweaks, not a full revision."

But here's the critical point. While the Commission tweaks the system, the clock keeps running. The enforcement dates are now law:

These dates come from Regulation (EU) 2025/2650, published in the Official Journal in December 2025. No further delay has been adopted.

If you're a large operator: You have roughly 10 months until your deadline. The system you need to submit through is offline. When it reopens, it may work differently. Plan for that gap. Don't wait for mid-April to start preparing your data.

If you're a small operator: You have more time (June 2027). But the training server is gone. When it comes back, learn it fast.

If you advise companies on EUDR: Your clients need to know the system is down. Many don't. This is the kind of practical information that separates good advisors from PowerPoint consultants. Sources: European Commission — EUDR Information System Newsletter | APLF — EUDR System Access Restricted | Mayer Brown — EUDR: What Lies Ahead in 2026

Canada announced a new C$500 million commitment to forest sector transformation on February 25. It's part of a broader C$1.25 billion package announced since 2025.

Why it matters: This is Canada's response to US tariffs. The package includes four programs. IFIT supports mill upgrades. GCWood promotes mass timber in construction. The Indigenous Forestry Initiative funds First Nations projects. GloFor helps Canadian companies find new export markets.

The speed: A new Forest Sector Transformation Task Force has a 90-day mandate. Its report is due April 18. Seven projects in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia already received C$2.8 million in immediate funding.

The European angle: While Canada retools with half a billion dollars, Europe debates EUDR tweaks. Canadian producers competing with European exporters will have newer mills, better products, and government backing. European forest industries have no equivalent package. Source: Canada.ca — Government Launches $500M for Forest Sector

Swedish pulp giant SCA announced a 100 USD/t increase for NBSK pulp in Europe. The new list price is 1,700 USD/t. Some trade outlets report 1,710 USD/t. The increase applies to March deliveries.

Context: NBSK (Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft) is the benchmark pulp grade for paper and packaging. Price hikes signal strong demand or tight supply. In this case, both.

Why it matters: Pulp prices feed into paper costs. Paper costs feed into packaging, printing, and tissue. When the benchmark moves 100 USD in one step, everyone downstream feels it. Source: SCA — NBSK Price Increase | EUWID Paper

EU carbon allowance prices dropped sharply on February 26. EUA futures briefly fell below 70 EUR/t. Prices are roughly 20% lower than at the start of 2026.

What triggered it: Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso called for suspending the EU Emissions Trading System at the Competitiveness Council meeting on February 26. Multiple member states backed calls for significant reform.

Why foresters should care: The ETS drives demand for carbon credits and influences forest carbon project economics. Lower EUA prices reduce the incentive for companies to buy voluntary forest carbon offsets. When compliance carbon is cheap, the voluntary market suffers.

The bigger picture: Political pressure on the ETS is growing. If member states succeed in weakening the system, it reshapes the economics of every climate-related investment in Europe — including forests. Source: Carbon Pulse — CP Daily, February 26 | Trading Economics — EU Carbon Permits

Glasgow-based Creel has been shipping forest products for 30 years. Director Neil Stoddart knows the timber supply chain from stump to port. The company handles shipping, logistics, and freight for the UK forest industry.

What's new: Creel is part of the Net Zero Timhaul project — the UK's first trial of electric timber haulage trucks. The project received £452,000 from Scottish Forestry. Partners include James Jones & Sons and Scotlog. Electric vehicles have been operational since 2023.

Why it matters: Timber transport is one of forestry's biggest carbon footprints. If electric trucks work for heavy timber loads on rural Scottish roads, they can work anywhere. This is real decarbonisation. Not a pledge. Not a target. Trucks on roads. Like Scania and SCA in Sweden (EFP issue #54) Source: Creel — About | Scottish Forestry — Highland Electric Timber Truck

Check the EUDR Information System yourself.

Go to the European Commission's EUDR portal. Try to register. Try to submit. See what happens.

Most operators assume the system is ready and waiting. It's not. Seeing "read-only" with your own eyes is more convincing than any consultant's slide deck.

Then ask yourself: is your data ready for the day it reopens?

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Until Thursday!

Wish you all the best: Peter

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