Intergraf welcomes the conclusions of the negotiations on the European Deforestation Regulation providing a one-year extension to the entry into application of the Regulation. The deal reached by the co-legislators also includes simplified requirements down the supply chain and a review clause by 30 April 2026 to explore further simplification measures.

Intergraf strongly welcomes the shift towards greater simplification. We also appreciate that legislators did not maintain the initial proposal, which would have required processing an unmanageable volume of data along the value chain.

The co-legislators decided to exclude printed products from the scope of EUDR. This exclusion concerns all printed items falling under HS code 49[1], such as books, newspapers, commercial printing products and advertising material, while printed items classified under other HS codes will remain fully covered by the Regulation. This is the case for instance of printed packaging, labels, wallpaper and stationery products covered by HS code 48.

It is essential to underline that paper, the core raw material used by the European printing industry, will remain fully within the scope of the Regulation, whether sourced within the EU or imported. This implies that European printers may still have EUDR obligations for the paper they use.

This also means that printed products manufactured in the EU will, by default, continue to comply with EUDR requirements. So will printed products manufactured in neighbouring countries that use EU-sourced paper. All other printed products manufactured outside the EU will not meet the same standards intended to prevent global deforestation.

The printing industry focussed its efforts to secure that EUDR requirements were workable for its companies, 95% of which have less than 20 employees, as well as its customers. Intergraf reiterates its full support for the objectives of the EUDR, particularly given the persistent misconception that printed products contribute to deforestation. The European printing industry has long been committed to sustainable sourcing and stands behind policies that aim to protect forests and welcomes the steps towards a simplified implementation across the value chain.

 More on EUDR here.

 

[1] HS 49 products include books, newspapers, magazines, pictures, colouring books, maps, plans, stamps, banknotes, cards, postcards, calendars, photographs, catalogues, commercial printing products, trade advertising materials (non-exhaustive list).

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