COCERAL, the European association representing the trade in agricultural commodities, has called on the European Commission to further delay the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 – commonly known as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) – citing unresolved challenges that could severely disrupt the soybean supply chain.

Despite a previous one-year postponement, COCERAL warns that the regulation continues to pose significant compliance and infrastructure hurdles. In a recent press release, the association urged the Commission to grant an additional one-year extension for all market participants, regardless of their size. “This extension would provide essential time to resolve critical issues and ensure a smooth transition for EU industries and consumers,” COCERAL stated.

The association criticized the Commission’s recent announcements on September 23 and October 21, 2025, which introduced fragmented implementation timelines. According to COCERAL, these inconsistencies have created market confusion and increased operational risks, making it extremely difficult for stakeholders to meet the compliance deadline of December 31, 2025.

A key concern highlighted by COCERAL is the lack of ready infrastructure to support the EUDR’s strict traceability and segregation requirements. “Building new silos, crushing plants, and port facilities to accommodate segregated supply chains is prohibitively expensive and logistically unfeasible, especially at major ports,” the statement noted.

These challenges have already begun impacting the industry, leading to reduced throughput, increased costs, and limited availability of compliant goods—trends that could drive up food prices and inflation across the EU.

Moreover, the association warned that the regulation may severely affect the EU feed and meat industries, potentially shifting production abroad: “If EU operators cannot source compliant raw materials, they may be forced to rely on imported end products from non-EU countries, putting domestic producers at a competitive disadvantage and threatening the viability of the EU livestock sector.”

COCERAL called on the European Commission to adopt a pragmatic and inclusive approach to the regulation's rollout: “At this stage, a further postponement is the only viable solution to avoid supply disruptions in 2026 and to safeguard the competitiveness of EU industries and consumer markets.”