By Ali Al Zakry · Investigative Journalism · May 11, 2026. In this report, we explore EUDR simplification and feature coffee industry voices on the topic.
On 4 May 2026, the European Commission published its long-awaited “simplification package” for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The coffee industry held its breath. After the December 2025 amendments, many hoped for genuine relief. What emerged was a contested bundle: new guidance, a draft delegated act, updated FAQs, and a report claiming 75% lower compliance costs for small operators. But critics say the core architecture — geolocation, polygon mapping, and the burden of proof remains intact.
Qahwa World asked six leading voices from Honduras, Germany, Kenya, Vietnam, Dubai and the Netherlands the same four questions. This preliminary report summarises their views. In the coming days, we will publish full, unedited interviews with each participant.
Who participated
What they said: a snapshot
On simplification: “Helps at the margins, but the EUDR remains an administrative monster for small players.” Who benefits? Large companies and low‑risk countries with organised documentation. Soluble coffee: Logical but adds complexity to multi‑origin supply chains. Readyness: “No. Small producers, small exporters and independent roasters will take the biggest hit.”
On simplification: “Helps around the edges, but does not remove traceability to farm level.” Who benefits? Larger organisations and origins with digital traceability. Soluble coffee: Closes a loophole, but pressures manufacturers. Readyness: “The vulnerable part is the smallholder end fragmented supply chains risk exclusion.”
On simplification: “Cosmetic. Brussels exported the burden to Honduras, Ethiopia, Uganda.” Who benefits? Big companies; low‑risk countries got a sticker, not relief. Soluble coffee: “Closes a real loophole, but taxes value addition at origin.” Readyness: “Hardest hit: African and Central American smallholder co-operatives without national traceability.”
On simplification: “Positive but partial. The real cost: farm mapping, satellite verification, farmer registration.” Who benefits? Large companies and organised chains. Soluble coffee: “Significant closes a loophole but raises pressure on traders.” Readyness: “Not ready in Africa and Asia. Smallholders, small exporters risk exclusion.”
On simplification: “No real value for farmers or consumers just higher costs.” Who benefits? (Not stated directly; criticises the “compliance tax”). Readyness: “Global supply chain is not ready for geolocation by December 2026.” Warns of parallels with organic certification where administrative costs swallow farm profits.
On simplification: “Step in the right direction, but incremental.” Who benefits? Low‑risk country exporters and small producers with clearer obligations. Soluble coffee: “Closes a philosophically inconsistent loophole.” Readyness: “Not fully ready. Mid‑tier importers with aggregated complex lots will suffer most.”
“Europe may end up protecting itself legally, while weakening some of the most meaningful forms of sustainable coffee trade.”
Dr. Steffen Schwarz
One thing everyone agreed on
The global coffee supply chain is not ready for 30 December 2026. Not even close. The large traders and multinationals are prepared. But smallholder-driven origins across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America lack the infrastructure. As John Seroney put it: “Without financial support, training, and genuine partnerships, small producers risk being excluded from the European market despite having grown sustainable coffee for generations.”
Burke Campbell added a structural observation: the “except small producers” exemption is an EU‑internal rule. A micro‑operator in Germany can use a postal address instead of polygons. A smallholder in Honduras or Vietnam cannot. “That single clause is the asymmetry.”
What changed — and what didn’t
✔ Soluble coffee is now fully covered (HS 2101 11 00) closing a loophole that allowed instant extracts to bypass the regulation. ✔ Leather and hides (raw, tanned, finished) were temporarily excluded, following industry lobbying documented by Earthsight. ✔ Compliance costs for micro and small operators inside the EU are estimated to fall by up to 75%. However, geolocation coordinates remain mandatory for exporters from low‑risk countries unless they are EU‑based micro operators. The final deadline: 30 December 2026 (large/medium operators) and 30 June 2027 for most micro/small non‑timber operators.
The Commission also announced a global law repository by December 2026, but several experts interviewed note that the burden of proof polygons, legality evidence, and traceability still sits with producers outside the bloc.
COMING NEXT — FULL EPISODES
This is the door. Over the next days, Qahwa World will publish six in‑depth episodes, each with complete, unedited answers from every expert.
First episode: Dr. Steffen Schwarz on why the “administrative monster” remains dangerous for direct trade and micro‑lots.
Key questions: expert answers
Does the simplification exempt low‑risk countries from geolocation?
No. Exporters from low‑risk countries (except EU‑based micro/small primary operators) must still provide plot‑level geolocation coordinates. The relief applies to the risk‑assessment step, but not to polygon mapping.
Why was soluble coffee added now?
According to the European Coffee Federation and the Commission’s delegated act, the previous exclusion created a “fragmented approach” non‑compliant green coffee could be processed into instant and enter legally. Inclusion restores competitive fairness and closes the deforestation loophole.
Will smallholder farmers be pushed out of the EU market?
Most experts we interviewed fear that without technical and financial support, smallholders in Africa, Central America, and parts of Asia will struggle to provide polygon data, annual verification, and legality evidence leading to de‑facto exclusion.
