The European Commission has adopted a Delegated Act that will remove cattle hides, skins and leather from the scope of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), marking another major milestone for the European leather industry after years of advocacy.
The Delegated Act was adopted on 13 July 2026 as part of the European Commission’s simplification package for the EUDR. It will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for scrutiny before entering into force.
According to the European Commission, the Delegated Act updates Annex I of the regulation by removing cattle hides, skins and leather, along with several other products.
The Commission said the changes provide greater legal certainty for businesses, Member States and partner countries ahead of the regulation’s application, while supporting a smoother implementation of the law.
“With this package, we are providing the clarity and predictability that businesses, Member States and our international partners need to prepare for the application of the EU Deforestation Regulation at the end of 2026. Following the agreement reached by co-legislators, we have completed the simplification review and put in place the necessary measures to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the Regulation.”
– Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
The move follows the Commission’s May 2026 proposal to remove leather from the regulation after concluding that the existing product scope should be simplified. The proposal came after extensive engagement by the global leather industry, which argued that leather is a byproduct of the meat and dairy industry and does not drive deforestation.
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COTANCE welcomed the adoption of the Delegated Act, describing it as a decision that reflects the realities of leather supply chains and the technical unfeasibility of bringing downstream leather products within the scope of the regulation.
The association said the European leather industry remains fully committed to responsible sourcing and will continue supporting existing traceability initiatives developed through the Leather Traceability Cluster and other collaborative efforts involving industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and certification bodies across the leather value chain.
According to COTANCE, the Delegated Act is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union in mid-September 2026, when the amended product scope is expected to officially take effect.
The regulation will apply from 30 December 2026 for large and medium-sized operators and from 30 June 2027 for most micro and small operators.
