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AF&PA Commends EU Decision to Extend Deforestation Regulation Deadline to December 2025

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Heidi Brock released the following statement regarding the European Union’s Commission decision to extend the EU Deforestation Regulation implementation deadline to December 2025.

 “We appreciate the EU Commission for being responsive to U.S. government officials and the numerous partners across the globe who have voiced concerns about the complex requirements and significant technical barriers of EUDR. Today’s additional guidance and extension of the implementation deadline provides industries like ours with more time to engage on workable solutions that avoid trade disruptions. 

“AF&PA fully supports the EUDR goal of deforestation-free supply chains. The U.S. pulp and paper industry is not linked to global deforestation and forest degradation."

"We believe in balanced and achievable regulations, and are a strong proponent of international efforts to address deforestation and forest degradation. As such we welcome the Commission's commitment to a stronger cooperation framework."

"We look forward to the opportunity for continued dialogue with EU regulators and other stakeholders to refine and improve the EUDR’s overall effectiveness.”

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day. The U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing more than $435 billion in products annually. AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030