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.
Commission Proposes Delay for SMEs and Additional Simplification
What? On 21 October, the European Commission proposed targeted amendments to the EU Deforestation Regulation to delay its entry into application for micro- and small enterprises, as well as additional simplification measures.
Citing IT concerns, the Commission had already floated the idea of delaying the entry into application for all companies by one year. The current proposal would grant this delay only to small businesses and put in place a six-month enforcement grace period for large and medium-sized companies, during which supervisory authorities will not be required to carry out checks or enforcement measures. This means enforcement would start on 30 June 2026 for larger operators and 30 December 2026 for smaller ones.
Only the operator first placing products on the EU market will be required to submit a due diligence statement in the EUDR IT system. Non-SME downstream operators and traders will still need to register and all downstream actors must continue to collect and retain relevant supply chain information and share reference numbers.
Why is it important? The proposal will streamline EUDR compliance for many European stakeholders, but maintains obligations for large companies and their supply chains. Producers in those supply chains will still have to comply with EUDR requirements. The proposal must still be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, who will aim to reach a rapid agreement. The Commission is also working on a contingency plan if the proposal does not have time to go through the entire legislative procedure before the end of the year.
Next Step for Simplified CSRD and CSDDD is Plenary
What? On 13 October, the European Parliament’s committee on legal affairs adopted its negotiating mandate for the Omnibus I simplification package, amending the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The mandate must now be approved in plenary sitting on 13 November.
A vote to fast track the legislative procedure was rejected by a majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), putting into question the current agreement. MEPs will now be able to propose amendments to the Committee’s compromise, leaving open the door for amendments by groups outside the centrist coalition.
We have analysed the alignment between the Parliament’s draft position as it stands now and the Council’s position, giving indications for the final text and the points where they diverge.
Points of alignment include:
Points of disagreement include:
Why is it important? The rejection of the fast-track procedure could translate into significant amendments being added to the Omnibus I during the next plenary. While the requirements remain uncertain and may evolve, the European Parliament’s draft report provides a clearer understanding of what the majority in Parliament could accept.
Stay tuned with Ohana Public Affairs for insights on the Omnibus I package and the next steps in EU negotiations. Our new article is coming later in November — until then, catch up with our previous explainer on the EU Omnibus I Simplification package.
Member States to Monitor their Soils’ Health
What? A draft of the European Commission’s upcoming Bioeconomy Strategy expected to be officially published on 13 November outlines a new vision for building a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy in the EU. The Strategy is a non-legislative document and outlines the Commission’s plans to support various emerging markets within the bioeconomy, such as natural textiles, fibres and biopesticides. It aims to scale up bio-based innovations that can replace fossil-based materials, while ensuring food security and environmental sustainability.
In addition, the new Strategy reaffirms the EU’s biomass use hierarchy: food and feed come first, followed by high-value materials, with energy use as a last resort. This marks a clear shift away from biomass combustion, which the Commission plans to disincentivise by 2030. Instead, it promotes higher-value applications such as biofertilisers, biopesticides, biochemicals, and biomaterials.
Why is it important? Farmers and foresters are positioned as central players in this transition, not only as food producers but also as suppliers of raw materials and by-products. The Strategy encourages cooperative projects to valorise agricultural residues like manure and crop waste, potentially unlocking new income streams. Simplified approval processes for bio-based inputs and benchmarking tools for carbon and biodiversity stewardship are also on the horizon. By 2026, the Commission is expected to develop a voluntary benchmarking system for on-farm sustainability assessment.
The European Commission Launched Public Consultations To Shape EU’s Climate Agenda
What? The Council of the EU and the European Parliament formally approved the EU Soil Monitoring Directive, respectively on 29 September and 23 October. It will soon be published in the Official Journal and will be transposed by Member States within three years.
It will be the EU’s first framework to assess and monitor soil health. Member States will be required to establish soil monitoring systems based on a common EU methodology, and will report regularly on soil health, land take, and contamination. The Directive will introduce soil health descriptors and classification systems linked to EU target values and national trigger values, which will help countries prioritise remediation efforts. Emerging pollutants such as PFAS, pesticides, and microplastics will also be included in the monitoring scope.
Why is it important? Healthy soils are the foundation of productive agriculture, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The Directive supports sustainable land management and could pave the way for incentive schemes that reward farmers for regenerative practices and soil stewardship. By improving soil health, the EU also aims to enhance food security, reduce input dependency, and mitigate climate risks.
Rapid Progress on the Unfair Trading Practices Directive
What? Negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on the revision of the Unfair Trading Practices Directive are making rapid progress. The proposed regulation aims to enhance cross-border cooperation among enforcement authorities in different Member States, enabling more effective investigations into unfair trading practices (such as last-minute cancellations of perishable goods orders) particularly when buyers and suppliers operate in separate countries.
Both sides have agreed on measures to include non-EU buyers, producers and retailers. An agreement has still to be found on the most controversial aspects of the Parliament’s proposal: the possibility to allow national rules to be applied across borders. The final agreement is expected by mid-November.
Why is it important? The revision of Unfair Trading Practices Directive seeks to address the power imbalance in the value chain, to ensure that farmers get a fair share of the final product’s value. Retailers argue that it risks undermining the single market and creating legal uncertainty.
From a political standpoint, the vote represents the EU’s response to farmer protests and mounting demands for greater fairness in the supply chain.
2026 Work Programme Release: No Legislation on Animal welfare, and More Simplification Announced
What? On 21 October, the European Commission presented its work programme for 2026. For agriculture, a non-legislative strategy for livestock will be published in the second quarter of 2026. While this confirms the Commission’s intention to address livestock issues, it also signals a delay in long-promised animal welfare legislation. Contrary to earlier commitments, no binding proposals are currently planned for 2026, while only “elements” of animal welfare will be included in the broader livestock strategy.
The work programme also outlines other relevant actions: a review of the unfair trading Practices (UTP) rules in Q3 2026, a biotech regulation proposal in spring 2026, and evaluations of animal health legislation, EFSA, and fertiliser rules throughout the year.
Why is it important? The work programme shows that policy areas that are already being reviewed in 2025, like fertilisers or unfair trading practices, will be reviewed further in 2026. The work programme does not specify what is the aim of the announced initiatives but has already made known that fertilisers rules will be streamlined further than the current omnibus on food and feed will allow.
Veggie Burgers Ban Now Included in the CMO Reform
What? The European institutions have started the trilogue on the reform of the common market organisation, aiming to ensure farmers a fair bargaining position with retailers and processors. Largely supported by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) across the political spectrum, right-wing French MEPs managed to introduce a ban on several meat denominations for non-meat products. Names like sausage, steak or burger would be banned from non-meat products. The amendment has a low level of support in the Parliament, even among MEPs close to farmers, but may now end up in the final version of the CMO reform.
Why is it important? This ban on meat names reflects the growing cultural war around veggie products. Critics argue that it shifts the focus away from the food system’s impact on the environment and on the way the EU can shape diets.
New Criteria for Greener and Healthier Public Canteen Menus
What? A new Joint Research Centre (JRC) report argues that the way public authorities buy food can shape the entire food system, from how food is produced to what ends up on our plates. The report outlines voluntary criteria to guide “greener and healthier” procurement choices, such as prioritising organic products, sustainable fisheries, stronger animal welfare standards, and environmentally friendly fats like olive oil. It also recommends factoring in energy and water use, fertiliser and pesticide intensity, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating suppliers.
Why is it important? Food procurement represents a major share of public spending across Europe. Embedding sustainability into these decisions could make healthy, low-impact diets the norm rather than the exception. The European Commission is currently working on a revision of the current Public Procurement Framework and the inclusion of mandatory green public procurement is one of the most debated requirements.
Closes on 10 November 2025
The European Commission opened a public consultation on the upcoming Biotech Act proposal. It will propose a series of measures to create an enabling environment to accelerate the transition of biotech products from laboratory to factory and to the market. The consultation closes on 10 November.
18 November 2025
The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have organised a conference on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy. The event will take place in the European Parliament, in Brussels.
2-4 December 2025
Organised by the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the conference will launch the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. There will be an exchange on the EU’s strategic challenges and on insights from science, innovation and practice, at Member State and EU level in relation to the strategy. The event takes place in Copenhagen.
8 December 2025
Following the adoption of the European Water Resilience Strategy, the first Water Resilience Forum will bring together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, and civil society to chart the path toward a water-resilient EU by 2050. The event takes place in Brussels.
Closes on 12 December 2025
The European Commission opened a public consultation ahead of the revision of the EU animal welfare legislation, including a follow-up on the commitment to phase-out the use of cages for certain animals.
15-17 December 2025
The European Commission is holding a three-day event to discuss the future of agri-food in the EU with policymakers, farmers, and stakeholders. Registrations to this in-person event in Brussels will open soon.
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please reach out to Natalia Yerashevich at natalia@ohanapublicaffairs.eu, Francesca Fina at francesca@ohanapublicaffairs.eu, or Arthur Faure at arthur@ohanapublicaffairs.eu