For two years, leather and footwear exporters braced for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Then, in May 2026, the European Commission proposed to drop cattle hides, skins and leather from the rules entirely. So is leather in or out — and should you stop preparing? Here's the accurate, current picture.
Key takeaways
- In May 2026, the Commission published a draft delegated act proposing to remove cattle hides, skins and leather from EUDR scope.
- It is a proposal — until the delegated act is finalised and in force, treat leather as potentially in scope.
- The main EUDR deadline of 30 December 2026 (large/medium operators) is confirmed and will not move again.
- Other commodities — cattle/beef, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy, wood — remain fully covered.
- Smart exporters keep their traceability data ready: EU buyers and CSRD still demand it regardless of EUDR's final leather scope.
What is the EUDR, in one paragraph?
The EUDR targets seven forest-risk commodities and their derived products: cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy and wood. For each shipment, operators must file a due-diligence statement proving the goods did not come from land deforested after 31 December 2020. It is one of the most data-intensive supply-chain laws the EU has ever passed.
Is leather still covered by the EUDR in 2026?
After heavy lobbying from the leather and footwear industries, the Commission concluded that leather — a by-product of the meat industry rather than a driver of new deforestation — should be treated differently. The draft delegated act published in May 2026 proposes deleting all three cattle-leather entries from EUDR Annex I: raw hides, tanned hides, and further-prepared leather.
Crucially, the Commission stated it will not re-open the EUDR's main legal text, and is instead adjusting scope through this delegated act. The draft went through a public feedback period closing on 1 June 2026. As with any delegated act, it only takes legal effect once formally adopted and published — so the exemption is not yet guaranteed.
What is the EUDR deadline?
| Operator size | EUDR applies from |
|---|---|
| Large & medium operators and traders | 30 December 2026 |
| Micro & small operators | 30 June 2027 |
| Micro/small already under EU Timber Regulation | 30 December 2026 |
Which products are still covered — even if leather is out?
If your business also touches rubber (soles, components), wood (packaging, lasts), or you supply cattle products beyond hides, those obligations are unaffected. Many footwear and mixed-material exporters will find they are still in scope through other inputs even if leather itself is exempted.
Should leather exporters stop preparing? No — here's why
Even in the best case — leather formally exempted — three pressures remain:
- EU buyers still ask. Brands under CSRD must report on their value chain, so they push traceability requirements down to suppliers by contract, not by law.
- Adjacent inputs stay in scope. Rubber, wood and cattle by-products keep EUDR obligations live for most footwear supply chains.
- The data is reusable. Supplier geolocation and deforestation-free evidence feed directly into ESG scorecards, carbon accounting and audit-ready reporting.
In other words, the exporters who quietly kept their EUDR data pack ready will be the low-risk, easy-to-buy-from suppliers — while those who "stood down" scramble when a buyer's questionnaire lands.
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📅 Book a Free 30-Minute EUDR Readiness CallFrequently asked questions
Is leather still covered by the EUDR in 2026?
Its status is changing. In May 2026 the Commission proposed removing cattle hides, skins and leather via a draft delegated act. Until that act is finalised and in force, treat leather as potentially in scope and verify the final legal text.
What is the EUDR deadline?
30 December 2026 for large and medium operators and traders; 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators. The 30 December 2026 date is confirmed and will not move again.
Which products are still covered?
Cattle/beef, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy and wood, plus many derived products. Removing leather does not affect these.
Should leather exporters stop preparing?
No. The removal is proposed, not final, and the traceability data required is the same data EU buyers and CSRD demand. Keeping it ready protects EU market access.
What is the EUDR deforestation cut-off date?
Goods must be proven not to originate from land deforested after 31 December 2020.
Sources & further reading
- European Commission — Regulation on deforestation-free products (official): environment.ec.europa.eu
- Fern — "Commission rules out re-opening EUDR but drops leather from goods covered by it": fern.org
- Baker McKenzie — "EU Commission Publishes Simplification Review of EUDR" (May 2026): bakermckenzie.com
- World Resources Institute — "What Is the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)?": wri.org
This article reflects the position as of mid-2026 and is general guidance, not legal advice. The leather delegated act was a draft at the time of writing — always confirm the final adopted EUDR scope and dates against the official EU source before acting.