EU Deforestation Regulation: Entrepreneurs demand more time for implementation!

EU Deforestation Regulation: Entrepreneurs demand more time for implementation!

On December 17, 2024, the European Parliament decided to postpone the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation by one year. This regulation is crucial for affected companies as it gives them additional time to prepare for the complex requirements of this regulation. Karlheinz Kopf, Secretary General of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), commented on this decision as “necessary” to enable large retailers to comply with the regulations by December 30, 2025. Smaller companies even have until June 30, 2026 to adapt. The shift could help avoid uncontrollable risks in supply chains and give companies a competitive advantage in these challenging times wko.at reported.

Although the Chamber of Commerce supports the regulation's goals of minimizing global deforestation, it warns of the bureaucratic challenges that implementation entails. “The current requirements are not practical and are putting a strain on many important industries,” Kopf continued. The WKÖ is calling for improvements and faster publication of accompanying guidelines in order to give entrepreneurs more planning security. In this context, it is important for companies to structure their annual planning strategically and to remain flexible. How betterbusinessacademy.de As described, successful annual planning should simultaneously ensure agility and set measurable goals in order to meet the challenges of a dynamic market.

An effective strategy system also helps companies not only focus on short-term successes, but also pursue the long-term vision. Companies are encouraged to reflect on both future developments and current successes in their planning and to define detailed measures. This is the only way they can close the gap between the current situation and the desired goals and be sustainably successful.