EU Postpones Deforestation Compliance Deadline for Kenyan Coffee Exporters to 2025

(Nairobi) – Kenyan coffee exporters have been granted an additional year to comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) after the EU Parliament voted to delay its implementation from December 2024 to December 2025. This extension comes as a relief to exporters who were at risk of losing access to the EU, their largest market.

The decision was made on Thursday in response to concerns from EU member states, non-EU countries, and industry players who argued they would not be ready to meet the regulation’s requirements by the original deadline. The EUDR mandates that seven agricultural products, including coffee, must be proven not to have been grown on deforested land cleared after December 31, 2020, to qualify for EU import.

The Parliament’s vote also introduced amendments to strengthen compliance, including the creation of a new “no risk” category for countries with stable or increasing forest areas.

Large operators and traders must now meet EUDR requirements by December 30, 2025, while micro- and small enterprises have until June 30, 2026. The EU stated this adjustment would ensure a smoother implementation while upholding the law’s objectives.

“This postponement responds to concerns raised by multiple stakeholders, enabling operators globally to align with the regulation from the start,” the EU Parliament said in a statement after the vote. The decision was approved by 371 votes to 240, with 30 abstentions.

Countries designated as “no risk” under the amended regulation will face less stringent requirements, as they are deemed to have negligible deforestation risks. The EU Commission aims to complete a benchmarking system by mid-2025 to identify these countries.

Kenya’s coffee exporters welcomed the postponement, as failure to comply would have jeopardized access to the EU, which accounts for seven of Kenya’s 10 largest coffee markets. In 2022, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and Switzerland were among Kenya’s top EU destinations for coffee, collectively purchasing nearly 40% of exports.

Despite this extension, challenges remain. Many Kenyan coffee farmers and cooperatives lack awareness of the new rules, while the cost of compliance is burdensome, especially for smallholder farmers. Marten Sievers, regional managing director for Neumann Kaffee Gruppe East Africa, described the situation as a “huge challenge” during an interview in August, highlighting the fragmented nature of Kenyan coffee farming.

Coffee, grown in 33 counties, is a critical cash crop for Kenya. However, production has faced setbacks, dropping by 6.2% to 48,700 tonnes in 2023 from 51,900 tonnes the previous year, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

The EU’s regulatory delay offers temporary relief, but stakeholders emphasize the urgent need for education, infrastructure, and policy support to ensure compliance by the new deadlines.