The European Commission has granted the fashion and apparel sector a crucial six-month “grace period” for the enforcement of the landmark EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). While the legislation for large and medium-sized companies officially comes into effect on December 30, 2025, this reprieve means that enforcement and penalty checks for the downstream supply chain will be eased until approximately June 2026.
The EUDR aims to prevent products linked to deforestation or forest degradation including crucial fashion materials like leather, wood-based fabrics, and rubber from entering the European market. By granting the EUDR Fashion Grace Period, the Commission hopes to ensure a more gradual and manageable phase-in of the demanding new rules.
The regulation requires companies to implement extensive due diligence systems, providing verifiable geolocation coordinates to prove their products are deforestation-free after December 31, 2020. The grace period is intended to give the downstream segment of the supply chain which includes many fashion houses additional time to integrate these complex traceability requirements.
For micro and small enterprises (SMEs) in the sector, the full compliance deadline already stands at a later date, June 30, 2026. This latest announcement primarily targets the large and medium operators who face the initial December 2025 effective start date, offering a much-needed buffer for the industry to adapt.
