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Founder of Euverify | EU & UKCA Compliance Expert
Ajay is an eCommerce expert with 17+ years of experience as an Amazon, eBay, and Etsy seller and a Shopify specialist. He excels in EU and UK compliance, including GPSR and UKCA, helping businesses expand into European and UK markets. Ajay is the founder of Sweans, a London-based eCommerce agency, and Euverify.com, a SaaS platform streamlining compliance for non-EU sellers.
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EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): What the Latest Changes Mean for Books, Publishers and Printers
In late 2025, the European Union changed the scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in a way that matters to publishers, printers and distributors. After continued discussions with the publishing and printing industries, the European Parliament agreed to exclude printed books, newspapers, journals and similar products from the regulation’s due diligence rules.
Put simply, this means publishers no longer need to track where the paper fibre comes from for most finished printed products. This requirement had caused concern across the industry because it was difficult to manage in practice. At the same time, the EU also delayed when the EUDR will start to apply, with enforcement now expected in late 2026 or 2027, depending on the size of the business.
Although this exemption brings some welcome relief, it does not remove every obligation. Publishers still need to be clear about where EUDR requirements stop and where other EU rules continue to apply. Some paper based products are still covered, and companies selling goods in the EU must continue to meet other regulatory requirements.
This article sets out what the exemption means in day to day terms, which products are still included, how the new timeline affects businesses, and why publishers should still take a clear and practical approach to EU compliance.
What Is the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and Who Does It Apply To?
The EU Deforestation Regulation, formally Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, was adopted in 2023 with a clear aim: to make sure that products sold in or exported from the EU do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation anywhere in the world.
The core of the EUDR is a mandatory due diligence system that requires companies to:
- Trace forest risk commodities back to the specific plot of land where they were produced.
- Provide a due diligence statement confirming that goods are deforestation free, meaning they were not produced on land cleared after 2020.
The regulation focuses on certain commodities that are closely linked to deforestation risk. These include beef, soy, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, rubber and wood, along with some products made from them.
However, when the regulation was first agreed, it also covered broad categories of products made from wood or paper, which is why printed materials were originally included.
Why Printed Books and Publishing Supply Chains Raised Concerns Under the EUDR
Under the original wording of the regulation, products made from wood based materials, including printed items, were brought within the scope of the EUDR. This meant that publishers and printers would have been required to carry out detailed due diligence to trace the origins of the paper fibre used in every book, newspaper or magazine sold in the EU.
For many parts of the publishing supply chain, this created clear practical difficulties:
- Books and printed media are usually made from paper sourced from a mix of materials, such as recycled pulp and sustainably managed fibre, which makes tracing a single origin very difficult.
- Tracing every fibre back to a specific forest plot is not realistic for most publishers, particularly smaller businesses with limited resources to manage compliance.
- Industry bodies warned that this approach could place a heavy administrative burden on the sector, with the risk of limiting cultural output without delivering a proportionate environmental benefit.
As a result, there was sustained pressure from across the industry, including major European publishers and booksellers associations, to change the regulation.
European Parliament Decision on EUDR: Exemption for Printed Books and Publications
On 17 December 2025, Members of the European Parliament voted in plenary to approve changes to the EUDR that remove printed books, newspapers, journals, magazines and similar products from the scope of the regulation.
What Was Agreed: EUDR Exemption for Printed Books (Chapter 49 Products)
✔ Printed books and related products, classified under Chapter 49 of the Combined Nomenclature, are no longer subject to EUDR due diligence requirements.
✔ Books, journals, newspapers, magazines and other finished printed materials are exempt because they present a limited direct risk of contributing to deforestation.
✔ The European Parliament approved this exemption by a clear majority.
This decision marks a significant concession to the publishing industry and reflects an acknowledgement that printed products need to be treated differently from primary commodities linked to deforestation risk.
Importantly, this exemption does not remove environmental responsibilities altogether. Paper used in books may still be supplied by companies that must comply with EUDR rules on sourcing wood pulp. However, the finished books themselves will not be subject to detailed due diligence.
Why Printed Books Were Exempt from the EU Deforestation Regulation
Industry organisations argued that applying full due diligence requirements to printed products:
- Would create an unworkable regulatory burden for publishers and booksellers because of the complexity involved in tracing mixed paper sources.
- Could disrupt publishing, libraries, educational materials and cultural diversity across Europe.
- Would not significantly improve forest protection, given that most printed products already use certified or recycled paper.
The decision to exempt printed products, which was strongly supported by publishers and booksellers associations, reflects these practical concerns.
Which Paper and Printed Products Are Still Covered by the EUDR?
It is important to note that not all paper based products are exempt from the EUDR. The exemption is limited to printed materials that are mainly used to share information or culture, such as books and newspapers.
Many paper products still fall within the scope of the regulation, including:
- Notebooks, notepads and other stationery.
- Printed packaging, labels and wrapping materials.
- Paper products used for industrial or commercial purposes.
These products remain subject to the EUDR’s traceability and due diligence rules because they are still considered to carry a higher forest risk or are more likely to involve wood sourced from higher risk supply chains.
As a result, while the exemption is an important step for publishers and media organisations, other industries that rely heavily on paper must continue to prepare for full EUDR compliance.
EUDR Implementation Timeline and Compliance Delays: What Businesses Need to Know
Alongside the exemption for printed books, the EU institutions also agreed to delay the start of EUDR compliance deadlines. This reflects wider concerns about whether businesses and authorities are ready and have the capacity to manage the new requirements.
The expected timeline is now as follows:
- Large operators and traders must meet EUDR due diligence obligations by 30 December 2026.
- Micro and small enterprises have until 30 June 2027 to meet simplified due diligence requirements.
- This is a further delay from the original start date of 30 December 2025.
The decision to delay was driven by several practical concerns, including:
- The complexity of the EU IT system, known as TRACES, which companies must use to submit and manage due diligence statements.
- Ongoing technical challenges in collecting and tracing supply chain data for all regulated products.
- Strong feedback from industry groups about the scale of the original compliance burden.
While the delay gives businesses more time to prepare, it has also been criticised by environmental organisations, who argue that repeated postponements reduce the regulation’s overall impact.
Publishing Industry Reaction to the EUDR Exemption and Sustainability Expectations
The decision to remove printed books from the scope of the EUDR was widely welcomed by publishers and organisations across the book trade.
For example:
- The European and International Booksellers Federation described the agreement as a historic victory that helps protect access to culture, diversity and democratic values across Europe.
- Publishers also noted that the change allows them to focus more on voluntary sustainability efforts, rather than spending time and resources on compliance requirements that were seen as disproportionate.
At the same time, industry bodies have been clear that this does not signal a step back from environmental responsibility. Many publishers continue to prioritise sustainable paper sourcing and work closely with suppliers to maintain high environmental standards.
This reflects a two track approach within the book industry:
- Regulatory relief through the EUDR exemption.
- Continued voluntary action to strengthen sustainability and forest friendly practices.
Broader EU Sustainability Policy Implications for Publishing and Cultural Industries
The decision to exempt printed books from the EUDR points to a wider challenge in EU environmental policy, namely how to pursue strong sustainability goals while also taking account of how different industries operate in practice.
Supporters of the regulation argue that the EUDR has the potential to significantly reduce deforestation linked to the EU, as it requires companies to trace and verify the sourcing of commodities known to carry higher risk.
Critics, particularly from the cultural sector, have warned that applying the same rules to finished printed products would:
- Place an unnecessary compliance burden on publishers.
- Risk limiting the circulation of information and cultural materials.
- Redirect time and resources away from environmental actions that could be more effective if focused elsewhere.
Seen in this light, the exemption can be understood as a targeted adjustment to the regulation, recognising that not all products made from wood present the same level of environmental risk.
What Publishers and Non-EU Businesses Selling into the EU Should Do Next
Even with the exemption in place, publishers and printers should still take a proactive approach.
✔ Stay informed about publication in the Official Journal
The amended regulation, including the exemption for printed products, must be published in the EU’s Official Journal before it becomes legally binding.
✔ Keep an eye on final TRACES guidance
Systems such as TRACES will continue to be important for businesses that deal with products still covered by the EUDR. Understanding how these systems work ahead of the deadlines will be essential.
✔ Continue with sustainability strategies.
An exemption does not remove environmental responsibility. Many publishers are already taking steps such as:
- Using certified sustainable and recycled paper.
- Adopting more environmentally friendly printing processes.
- Carrying out supplier audits and applying supplier codes of conduct.
These actions sit alongside legal compliance and help support wider environmental, social and governance goals.
Final Takeaway: EUDR Compliance Obligations for Publishers Selling Books in the EU
The European Parliament’s decision in December 2025 to remove printed books, newspapers and similar materials from the scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation represents an important adjustment to the law. By excluding Chapter 49 printed products, the EU recognised both the low deforestation risk linked to finished publications and the practical difficulty of applying full traceability rules to complex paper supply chains.
That said, this exemption should not be seen as a complete removal of regulatory responsibility for publishers and printing businesses. Many paper based products, including stationery, packaging and labels, are still covered by the EUDR. Businesses placing products on the EU market must also continue to consider their wider compliance obligations. Depending on the product and business model, this may include importer responsibilities, product safety rules, labelling requirements and authorised representative obligations.
As EUDR implementation moves towards late 2026 and 2027, companies operating across borders will benefit from clearly understanding which products are exempt and which remain regulated, as well as how EU sustainability and product compliance rules fit together.
Euverify supports publishers, printers and non EU businesses selling into the European market by helping them understand regulatory changes, identify where obligations apply, and stay compliant as EU requirements continue to evolve.
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