EU moves to bring soluble coffee under deforestation-free supply chain law
Soluble coffee is typically produced from Robusta coffee, which has been associated with increased deforestation linked to full-sun monocrop cultivation
KAMPALA, July 30, 2026 — The European Commission has moved to bring soluble coffee, including soluble / instant coffee and coffee extracts, under the European Union Deforestation Regulation [EUDR], closing a long-standing gap in the regulation covering coffee products.
The Commission adopted a Delegated Act on July 13 to update the list of products covered by the EUDR, adding soluble coffee while removing several products, including cattle hides, skins and leather, retreaded tyres and soybeans for sowing. The changes still require scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU before the Act enters into force.
The move closes a legislative loophole dating back to the adoption of the EUDR in 2023. While green and roasted coffee were already covered by the regulation, soluble coffee was excluded despite being derived from coffee. The EUDR is designed to ensure that products placed on the EU market or exported from it do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation.
The move aligns with the position of the European Coffee Federation, which has urged the Commission to include soluble coffee within the EUDR to support “fair competitive conditions within the internal market”.
Soluble coffee is typically produced from Robusta coffee, which has been associated with increased deforestation linked to full-sun monocrop cultivation. Six countries — Vietnam, Brazil, Indonesia, Uganda, India and Côte d’Ivoire — produce approximately 95 percent of the world’s robusta coffee, according to World Coffee Research.
The Commission said leaving soluble coffee outside the rules created a “fragmented and incoherent approach” that could shift deforestation risks towards more processed coffee products imported into or exported from the EU.
Beyond coffee, the Commission’s updated act represents a significant development for Europe’s leather industry, which had lobbied for more than a year to have leather excluded from the regulation.
Cattle hides, skins and leather, along with retreaded tyres, soybeans for sowing and several other products, have been removed from the list of products covered by the EUDR. The Commission also added certain palm oil derivatives and frozen cattle tongues to the scope.
The Commission has also updated the EUDR Information System, introducing operational simplifications for companies submitting due diligence statements and simplified declarations.
EU institutions have twice amended the EUDR implementation timeline, delaying its application and introducing simplification measures. The regulation is currently scheduled to apply from December 30, 2026, to large and medium-sized operators, as well as micro and small operators already covered by the EU Timber Regulation. Other micro and small operators will come under the rules from June 30, 2027.
However, the new products added to the EUDR — including soluble coffee — will only become subject to the regulation from December 30, 2027, giving businesses additional time to prepare for the expanded scope.
https://thecooperator.news/bcu-farmers-ask-for-equipment-to-produce-soluble-coffee/
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