Prague – Business leaders are calling for an immediate delay of at least 12 months on the European regulation aimed at combating deforestation, along with the utilization of this time to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. This request was made public by the Czech Chamber of Commerce (HK ČR). The Chamber expressed concerns that a regulation lacking proper preparation and burdened with excessive administration could threaten the stability of businesses. The Czech Republic has been vocal in its criticism of the regulation, and although the European Commission has previously suggested easing it for small enterprises, the Chamber believes these efforts have come too late. The regulation is set to take effect on December 30 of this year.
“The regulation against deforestation is a poorly constructed bureaucratic initiative. While it is positive that the European Commission intends to simplify some of the obligations, this recognition of error is delayed, making timely approval of amendments very complex. There is a real risk that the original, illogical rules will be implemented at the end of the year,” stated Tomáš Prouza, president of the Czech Association of Trade and Tourism and vice president of HK ČR.
The proposed adjustments to the regulation indicate that larger companies will only face compliance checks and enforcement from June 30, 2026, while small and micro businesses will benefit from a one-year extension, shifting their compliance deadline to December 30, 2026. The Chamber believes that there is potential for even greater reduction in bureaucratic hurdles.
“We will advocate for further cuts in regulations and unnecessary administrative burdens, and we expect the new government to be proactive in this regard, as streamlining both European and domestic bureaucracy has become a key objective,” remarked Jan Matějíček, chairman of the wood processing industry section of HK ČR.
Food producers have also raised alarms about the consequences of not postponing the regulation, warning of potential supply chain disruptions and shortages in stores. The European Commission’s decision not to delay the deforestation regulation faced criticism from Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL), who noted that there is a risk of the system failing to be operational by January 1, which would pose significant challenges for hundreds of thousands of entities across the Czech Republic and Europe. (October 29)
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