Kenya’s small-scale coffee, tea, cocoa, and timber farmers have received a major reprieve after the European Commission proposed a one-year extension for compliance with the European Union’s new anti-deforestation law.
The regulation, known as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), was set to take effect on December 30, 2025, but the European Commission has now proposed to push the deadline for micro and small enterprises to December 30, 2026.
The move aims to prevent disruptions in global trade and ease the pressure on the EU’s online due diligence tracking system, which monitors the sourcing of goods entering European markets to ensure they are not linked to deforestation.
For Kenya one of Africa’s key exporters to Europe the decision comes as welcome relief for thousands of smallholder farmers and cooperatives dealing in coffee, tea, and other agricultural products, who had raised concerns over tight compliance deadlines and high costs.
Under the new proposal, small and micro producers from low-risk countries such as Kenya will be allowed to submit simplified reports or none at all if their data is already captured through national databases or exporter systems.
Large and medium-sized firms, including European importers handling Kenyan produce, will still be required to comply by December 2025 but will enjoy a six-month grace period before enforcement begins.
The European Union had earlier classified Kenya as a low-risk country under the EUDR in June 2025, following talks between Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and EU Ambassador Henriette Geiger.
Kenya’s exports to the EU reached Ksh450 billion in 2023, making the bloc the country’s largest export destination. Kenyan goods continue to enjoy duty- and quota-free access under the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, which took effect on July 1, 2024.
The European Parliament and Council are expected to review and adopt the proposal before the end of 2025, paving the way for a smoother, fairer rollout of the deforestation law and offering developing countries more time to align with green trade standards.
