Printed products are to be excluded from the EUDR, a move welcomed by publishers across Europe. but opposed by the paper industry. Paper companies want print products to be returned to the regulation. It is the latest twist in an ongoing saga over the EU’s drive to prevent deforestation.
In a vote at the European Parliament last month. MEPs decided to exclude books, brochures, calendars, magazines and newspapers from the provision of the regulation. That decision has led to an agreement with the Council which in turn has been accepted by the European Parliament. The decision means that products arriving in Northern Ireland for distribution in Southern Ireland, magazines and advertising material for example, should not be subject to innumerable forms and excessive burocracy.
These products will now not be affected by the implementation of a simplified version of EUDR due to be implemented at the end of 2026.
Not all printed products are exempt. Printed packaging, labels, wallpaper and notepads are still subject to its provisions. The simplified EUDR means that when using paper produced in the EU, there is no need to submit any due diligence certificates. This relief only applies to printers within the EU. It is likely that products placed on the EU market, even if printed on paper made in the EU, will need the appropriate certification, unless for exempted products.
Now the aim is to extend that exemption to printed packaging. The German print industry association says it will continue to press for further simplifications on products that remain subject to EUDR namely packaging and labels. A revision to EUDR is due in April.
The endorsement of the vote has been welcomed by the publishing industry. In the UK Publishers Association CEO Dan Conway says: “We’re incredibly pleased that books have been exempted from the incoming EUDR legislation. It’s a common sense move given the legislation was never designed for our sector. Our industry is hugely supportive of increasing our sustainable practices and good progress has been made in this area over the past few years. This work can now continue, but without the distraction of preparing for legislation that was fundamentally ill-suited.
“We thank our partners for their support, particularly the Federation of European Publishers of whom we are a member. Talking to publishers throughout the course of this year it was clear that gaining clarity on this issue has been one of their highest regulatory priorities. We’ve reached a great result here, so all in all it’s a good way to end the year.”
The paper industry, however, is less pleased by the development. It continues to point out the difficulties involved in proving the origin of all the pulp used in its papers when sourced from outside the EU.
There is one hurdle to overcome: the Parliament voted its approval last week, now that decision has to be accepted and ratified by the European Commission before the end of this year for the provisions to hold and for the delay to take effect.
