Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 2:57:23 to 3:00:14
Discussion on the postponement of the EU Deforestation Regulation to 2026 and ongoing advocacy for exemptions regarding Australian skins and hides.
Topics: Trade policy, Forestry, Beef exports
Speakers: Speaker 19, Speaker 2, Speaker 26, Tina Hutcherson, Ms. Tina Hutcherson
>> Thank Thank you. Um, and regarding the EU's um, proposed deforestation regulation, um, can you update the committee um, since the last time we met, what the latest developments are, including any official or unofficial delays or revisions, um, any ministerial or official representations and how they might affect Australian exporters.
>> Thank you, Senator. And there there remains a delay on the implementation of the um, uh, the EU dear. So I'll hand to
my colleague. >> Uh thanks Senator. So on the 17th of December 2025, so that was after we last met, the EU confirmed that the implementation of the EUDR has been further postponed. Uh the EUDR will now be applied from 30 December 2026 to large EU businesses and from 30 June 2027 to smaller EU businesses. Uh the AUDR has also been further amended to introduce some simplifications for small businesses within the EU and exempt printed products from the scope of regulated products. Uh the European Commission is also conducting a review of the EUDR by the 30th of April this year um to suggest further ways to simplify the legislation. Uh so it was initially postponed 12 months to 30 December 2025. Um and that's been extended for another year to 30 December 2026. Um that being said, we continue to advocate as a department and I know the minister's been active on this as well uh in terms of the uh EUDR and particularly relating to the exemptions for skins and hides. Um and that remains an ongoing concern of ours that we raised uh in various fora. Um I was talking to our uh minister counselor in Brussels um and he had raised it uh just last week um during his meetings with the European Commission.
>> Thanks very much. And um and minister obviously the government's been doing a lot of work to rebuild um our relationship with trading partners. Um how's it been going and how um how's how are we being seen with our trading
partners? >> Yeah, it's obviously important work. Senator Lego and uh undoing some of the damage that was done under the previous government has been uh something that this government has done led by the trade minister and obviously uh something that we're very passionate about in agriculture as well. Uh and Minister Collins has been working closely on. Uh we know the opportunity that comes with diversifying our trading markets and what that means for our producers around the country. Uh and uh we know that Senator Farrell uh is overseas at the moment uh undertaking some of that work. Uh and we look forward to continuing to enhance those opportunities uh because we know that means economic opportunity. It mean jobs uh and it's a good thing for the country when we're able to s seize those new