On 4 December, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a political agreement on the revision of the EUDR regulation, with significant implications also for the luxury packaging sector, which makes extensive use of paper, paperboard and wood-based components, an agreement aimed at simplifying the application of the rules and postponing their entry into force, thereby giving premium brands, specialised suppliers and competent authorities more time to adapt internal processes, information systems and traceability models throughout the supply chain.
The revision responds to concerns raised by Member States and economic operators regarding the level of preparedness of companies and the technical challenges associated with the new European information system, issues that are particularly sensitive for high-end packaging, which is characterised by complex supply chains, high value-added materials and a strong presence of small operators required to ensure reliable data on fibre origin and compliance with local legislation.
In this context, the co-legislators supported a targeted simplification of the due diligence procedure, removing the initially envisaged grace period and postponing the date of application of the regulation to 30 December 2026 for all operators, with an additional six-month margin for micro and small enterprises, a decision that strengthens regulatory certainty and enables more effective planning for luxury brands and their industrial partners.
A key element for the luxury packaging sector concerns the redefinition of responsibilities along the supply chain, as the obligation to submit the due diligence statement will rest exclusively with the operator placing the product on the Union market for the first time, while the first downstream operator will only be required to collect and retain the reference number of the initial declaration, significantly reducing administrative complexity for brands and converters.
Finally, the agreement highlights the importance of continuous dialogue between European institutions, experts and industry stakeholders, provides for the exclusion of certain printed products from the scope of the regulation, and entrusts the European Commission with the task of presenting, by 30 April 2026, a report on its impact and administrative burdens, a crucial step to ensure that sustainability objectives remain compatible with competitiveness, innovation and the quality standards of luxury packaging.
