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Welcome to our monthly insights into all EU agri-food policy news – from legislations and debates to political deals and manoeuvring – directly from Brussels and with a focus on sustainability.
At Ohana Public Affairs, we support companies in navigating complex and fast-evolving regulatory landscapes at EU and global level. In this edition, we spotlight our Global Policy Mapping service, a strategic tool designed to help businesses track and anticipate international regulatory requirements across jurisdictions.
By providing a clear overview of emerging obligations, policy trends and enforcement developments worldwide, our mappings enable companies to identify risks early, align compliance strategies and inform advocacy priorities in an increasingly interconnected policy environment.
We track and compare requirements across a wide range of policy areas, including sustainability and climate reporting, corporate due diligence, ecodesign, and waste legislation, just to name a few.
Our coverage spans the EU, the US, APAC and other key markets, offering companies a structured, forward-looking view of regulatory developments that may affect their global operations.
For questions or feedback, reach us at natalia@ohanapublicaffairs.eu, or francesca@ohanapublicaffairs.eu
Commission to propose targeted adjustments to the EUDR
What? The European Commission has confirmed it will not reopen negotiations on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Instead, it will propose targeted simplifications and refinements to the list of in-scope products.
By the end of April, the Commission is expected to present a simplification package, including a delegated act amending Annex I (scope of products). An external study assessing environmental impact and compliance costs will inform the proposal. According to the report, products such as instant coffee and palm oil soaps could be added due to their high environmental impact and relatively limited compliance costs. A public consultation on the delegated act is expected in late March or early April.
The Commission also clarified it will not revise the country benchmarking system on deforestation risk this year, postponing updates until the Regulation becomes applicable.
Additional technical updates are also planned, including adjustments to the IT system and further guidance on e-commerce, re-imports, and due diligence obligations for operators and traders.
Why is it important? Several politically sensitive elements remain under discussion, as the targeted amendments could lead to the inclusion of new products in Annex I and the exclusion of others.
The EUDR has undoubtedly prompted many questions across the food and beverage sector. In collaboration with TrusTrace, we created a series of articles that tackles the most common EUDR questions that F&B brands are asking.
One year after its publication, the Omnibus I Package is published in the EU Official Journal
What? One year after its publication, on 26 February, the EU published the final legal text of the Omnibus I package in its Official Journal, amending the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
The Directive will enter into force 20 days after publication. Member States will then have 12 months to transpose the CSRD amendments into national law, while the changes to the CSDDD must be applied by 26 July 2028, with application starting one year later.
Key requirements include:
Why is it important? While the EU legislative process has concluded, implementation discussions have just begun. In the coming months, the European Commission will launch consultations on the simplified ESRS, the updated Voluntary Reporting Standards for SMEs, and CSDDD implementation guidelines.
Looking for an overview of the policy developments on the Omnibus I Simplification Package? Read our latest blog, which unpacks the final law and traces its political background.
European Commission launches consultation on Forced Labour Regulation guidelines
What? The European Commission has started consulting stakeholders on the implementation guidelines for the EU Forced Labour Regulation, which must be adopted by 14 June 2026. The guidelines are intended to support consistent and predictable application of the rules, while limiting administrative burdens for authorities and businesses.
In February, the Commission launched a first four-week call for evidence on key implementation aspects, open for feedback until 6 March. Further targeted stakeholder consultations are planned throughout the first half of 2026.
Why is it important? The consultation phase provides stakeholders with an opportunity to help shape how due diligence expectations, risk assessment and enforcement will work in practice, while ensuring that existing compliance and traceability systems are appropriately taken into account.
Possible Exemption of Fertilisers from CBAM
What?
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU approved the interinstitutional agreement on the Amendment of the Climate Law, setting a 90% emissions reduction goal for 2040.
The deal includes flexibilities: up to 5 percentage points of reductions via high‑quality international carbon credits from 2036, a one‑year delay to ETS2 (buildings/road transport) to 2028, and biennial Commission progress reviews.
The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a call for evidence on the legal framework for the possible use of international carbon credits towards the 2040 EU climate law target. Stakeholders can present their views until 4 May.
Why is it important? The use of international carbon credits proved highly contentious during negotiations. European Parliament negotiators agreed to their inclusion only on the condition that “robust safeguards” are put in place. The exact design of these safeguards will be determined by the European Commission, based on its evaluation of pilot projects running from 2031 to 2036. Projects outside the EU, particularly those focused on carbon farming and other durable carbon removal approaches, could potentially benefit from such an international crediting framework.
What to expect from the forthcoming UTP Directive revision
What? The European Commission presented an early-stage evaluation of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Directive, noting that its assessment is affected by delayed transposition, limited data and recent market shocks. While the Directive remains relevant, shortcomings persist, particularly around farmers’ awareness, fear of retaliation and uneven enforcement across Member States.
A targeted review is planned for Q4 2026. It will examine remaining weaknesses, consider whether new practices (including sales below production costs) should be addressed, and assess the impact of divergent national rules on the Single Market.
Member States are divided. Several countries support strengthening farmers’ position and expanding the list of prohibited practices, while others urge caution, warning against excessive administrative burdens and market distortions.
Why is it important? The upcoming UTP Revision could reshape the balance of power in the food supply chain. For agri-food operators, it may lead to stricter rules on pricing practices, enforcement and contractual arrangements across the EU. At the same time, discussions on harmonisation will be key to avoiding further fragmentation of the Single Market.
Deadline: 6 March 2026 EU forced labour rules require the Commission to adopt implementation guidelines by 14 June 2026, in consultation with stakeholders, to ensure consistent and effective application while minimising administrative burdens and clarifying roles, responsibilities and compliance expectations. Stakeholders can present their feedback until 6 March.
17 March 2026 Organised by Euractiv, the Agrifood Policy Conference will include sessions on trade, competitiveness, food and feed safety.
18 March 2026. The event will showcase how farming and food systems are assessing and demonstrating their positive impacts on nature, people, and the economy, whilst building resilient farming. The event will feature tools and methods that can be used to measure and assess environmental, societal and economic benefits of farming and food systems..
Deadline: 24 March 2026 The Vision 2040 aims to set out the overarching policy framework for competitive, resilient and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors, including the processing sector, in line with the European Ocean Pact. Stakeholders can submit their feedback until 24 March.
25 March 2026 Organised by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), this event will bring together experts from the cutting edge of business, policy, innovation and finance as we investigate key nature transitions for the agri-food sector.
Deadline: 6 April 2026 The mid-term evaluation will assess the first results of the 2023-2027 CAP. It will gauge progress in achieving its objectives linked to the EU’s shared goals for social, environmental and economic sustainability in agriculture and rural areas. Stakeholders can submit their feedback until 6 April.
If you have questions regarding anything in the Ohana Agri-Food Monthly Insights, please reach out to Natalia Yerashevich at natalia@ohanapublicaffairs.eu, or Francesca Fina at francesca@ohanapublicaffairs.eu