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.
The European Commission Presents New EUDR Guidance Amid Increasing Industry’s Calls For Simplification
What?
The European Commission has published updated guidelines on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), clarifying several key concepts, including “negligible risk” and “supply chain complexity”, i.e., the latter affecting how detailed a risk assessment must be. The guidance confirms EUDR’s implementation dates: 30 December 2025 for large operators and 30 June 2026 for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Products placed on the market before these dates are exempt.
In addition, the expanded definition of legality now explicitly covers land rights, indigenous rights, labour law, and environmental protection, and the refined product scope explains that packaging falls under the EUDR only if sold as a product in itself, and products made from 100% recycled material are exempt. The guidance also clarifies the relationship between the EUDR and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD): if the two conflict but pursue the same objective, the EUDR prevails due to its greater specificity.
Why is it important?
With the first implementation deadline only months away, commodity sectors are intensifying calls for clear, practical rules to enable compliance and provide operational certainty. There is mounting speculation that the EUDR could be simplified and its entry into force delayed. Many stakeholders are urging EUDR requirements to be incorporated into the forthcoming Environmental Omnibus proposal, expected by the end of the year. A simplified version of the regulation could also be folded into other agriculture-sector simplification measures, which were announced alongside the Omnibus on agriculture and are also expected by the end of this year.
EFRAG Presents Simplified ESRS Under Omnibus I
What?
In late July, EFRAG, the European Commission’s technical advisory body on sustainability reporting, released revised drafts of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), significantly simplifying and scaling back the requirements for companies under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This update is part of the Commission’s Omnibus I proposal, aimed at reducing the regulatory and reporting burden on businesses.
Key changes include the removal of all voluntary disclosures, except for six areas that have now been made mandatory (water, biodiversity, training, and incidents). Overall, this amounts to a 68% reduction in reporting datapoints. Alongside the drafts, EFRAG opened a 60-day public consultation, running until 29 September. The Commission has also extended EFRAG’s deadline for delivering its final technical advice on the ESRS, now expected by the end of November 2025.
Why is it important? Drastic cuts in the datapoints and a narrowed scope mean it will be easier for in-scope companies to report and assure their reporting and for upstream suppliers to understand what sustainability information might need to be provided to their customers. The continued inclusion of water and biodiversity as mandatory disclosures reinforces the importance of these topics in value chains, where environmental impact is a key concern.
For the most up-to-date legislative update on the Omnibus I Simplification Package, check our August edition of the Agri-Food Newsletter.
Commission Presents Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard To Ease Burden On SMEs
What? At the end of July, the European Commission adopted a recommendation introducing a new voluntary sustainability reporting standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This voluntary SME (VSME) Standard is designed to ease the reporting burden on SMEs by providing a simplified framework for sharing sustainability information, particularly with large companies and financial institutions that are required to report under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and have SMEs in their supply chains.
The VSME Standard was developed by EFRAG, the Commission’s technical advisory body for sustainability reporting. It will serve as the basis for the future VSME, proposed in the Omnibus I package, which will be adopted through secondary legislation.
The VSME Standard includes two modules:
Why is it important? The standard provides a practical and recognised framework for voluntary reporting on sustainability for companies not in scope of CSRD in a way that aligns with the expectations of global brands, retailers, and financial actors under the CSRD. The VSME standard can already be used, but it might still be revised due to Omnibus. Companies in scope of CSRD and suppliers will have to closely monitor future Omnibus developments to be ready when the final VSME will be released.
For more context, read our blog article: European Responsible Conduct Legislation for EU and non-EU Suppliers
Dive into our article for a closer look at the Omnibus Simplification Package
The European Commission Launched Public Consultations To Shape EU’s Climate Agenda
What? The EU is advancing several initiatives to strengthen its climate action. While negotiations on the 2040 Climate Target are set to resume after the summer, the European Commission has launched two consultations that will shape the EU’s climate agenda for years to come.
Read our July edition of the Agri-Food newsletter for a recap of the Commission’s proposal on the 2040 climate target.
The first seeks feedback on developing the EU’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2025–2029, ahead of COP30 in Brazil, focusing on enhancing green diplomacy and engagement with non-EU countries. The EU NDC post 2025 will be largely influenced by the 2040 climate target.
The second aims to establish an integrated framework for climate resilience, helping Member States meet the scale of the challenges ahead. This framework is expected to unlock new commercial opportunities, drive innovation, boost competitiveness, and create markets for solutions such as water technologies, regenerative agriculture, and drought-resistant crops, positioning Europe as a global leader in climate resilience.
Why is it important?These climate initiatives are critical as they will shape the EU’s policy direction, funding priorities, and market frameworks for years to come. Engaging early through the public consultations allows stakeholders to influence the design of measures that could unlock significant commercial opportunities, set industry standards, and open access to emerging markets in climate-resilient technologies and services.
EU–US Formalise Trade Agreement on 15% Tariff for EU Goods
What?
The European Union and the United States have formalised their joint declaration on tariffs, following the political agreement struck on 27 July in Scotland between Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump. In a statement released on 21 August, both sides confirmed a 15% tariff on most goods arriving from the EU, and underlined their commitment to restoring stability and predictability in EU-US trade.
The Commission highlighted that the deal will deliver “improved market access” for US agricultural goods, while offering EU exporters greater “certainty and predictability” regarding conditions for access to the US market, the EU’s second largest destination for agri-food exports. High-quality, traditional European food and drink products remain in strong demand, and the agreement is framed as giving exporters the stability needed to sustain trade flows.
However, the Commission failed to secure an exemption for wine and spirits from the 15% US tariff on EU exports. Moreover, under the terms of the declaration, the EU has agreed to provide preferential access for a wide range of US seafood and agricultural goods, but not in “sensitive sectors” such as poultry, beef, sugar, and ethanol, as senior EU officials clarified.
Why is it important? While the deal promises stability and improved access, the EU’s failure to secure concessions on wine, spirits, and other offensive interests highlights the challenges ahead. The preferential treatment granted to US products, combined with exclusions in sensitive sectors, shows that negotiations remain delicate, and further amendments might be granted as the Commission admitted that “the fight isn’t over”.
“Organic Charter” Launched in Copenhagen To Accelerate EU Organic Production
What? At the two-day Organic Summit in Copenhagen, held under Denmark’s EU Presidency, more than 40 countries endorsed the “Organic Charter”, a joint declaration to accelerate progress towards the EU’s target of 25% organic farmland by 2030. The move comes against a challenging backdrop: Europe’s organic market is not expanding fast enough to meet the goal, with slow demand emerging as a key bottleneck. Beyond the latest CAP proposals, the organic sector has long warned of deeper structural barriers to growth. The EU currently invests around €3 billion annually in organic farming, which is well below the €9–15 billion experts estimate is needed.
The declaration outlines a roadmap with three priorities: supporting farmers in the transition to organic, strengthening organic food businesses, and expanding the organic market through improved consumer access and trust in labelling. By bringing together policymakers, researchers, farmers, and companies, the summit marked an important step in aligning policy, finance, and innovation to position organic farming as a driver of biodiversity, climate action, and sustainable food systems.
Why is it important? Organisers presented the Charter as a common framework to push decision-makers, but the real test will be whether it shapes policy, particularly in the ongoing CAP negotiations, where the gap between ambition and resources remains wide.
For more context read our blog article: The EU Organic Regulation Requirements For Smallholder Farmers
Closes on 4 September
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the upcoming EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, expected in Q4 2026. A public consultation will follow in Q4 2025.
9 September 2025 – Online
The European Biogas Association is organising an online workshop on bio-based fertilisers. Visit the European Biogas Association website for more info and registration.
Closes on 10 September 2025
The European Commission has opened the online consultation on the upcoming Environmental Omnibus, until 10 September 2025. The Commission’s publication is expected in the last quarter of 2025.
Closes on 11 September 2025
The European Commission has opened the online consultation on the updated EU Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), i.e. the EU’s global climate and energy strategy for 2025-2029, in view of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil.
Closes on 14 September 2025
The European Commission is setting up a consultative expert group to assist the Commission in evaluating technical matters of organic production, including products, substances, methods and techniques that may be used in organic production. Interested parties can apply to join the expert group by 14 September.
Closes on 15 September 2025
The European Commission is setting up a consultative expert group to assist in implementing the regulation and setting up the relevant guidelines. Interested parties can apply to join the expert group by 15 September.
16 September – Brussels and online
This in-person event will bring together public and private sector stakeholders to explore how nature-based solutions (NbS) can align biodiversity, economy, and innovation in a time of global urgency.
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