Leather should be removed from the EUDR scope. This was the strong message voiced at the European Parliament on 8 April in Brussels
European Parliament, Brussels, 8 April, 2026 - At the initiative of Dario Nardella (MEP, S&D Group, Italy), the discussion brought together the European leather industry — supported by delegates from embassies and missions to the EU, including Canada, the USA, Sweden, India, Australia, Vietnam, Japan and Brazil — alongside European Commission representatives, including Luis Planas Herrera, member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall, Members of the European Parliament such as Maria Grapini (S&D, Romania) and Francesco Torselli (ECR, Italy), as well as scientists, notably Luca Marrucci, PhD (University of Pisa), tanners and NGOs
The event provided a timely opportunity to engage directly with the European Commission as it prepares the EUDR Delegated Act that will revise the products under scope, expected by the end of April.
The discussion set the record straight: leather is not a driver of deforestation — it has never been — and its inclusion in the EUDR scope was made without a proper impact assessment.
From research — including studies from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa — to global industry evidence, key concerns were clearly highlighted:
- Farmers are not interested in implementing the EUDR based on their sales of raw hides, which account for only around 1.4% of the economic value of a bovine carcass.
- The risk of excluding a European industry from global value chains, effectively pushing production outside the EU
- The potential generation of millions of tonnes of waste if hides and skins are no longer transformed into leather
This is not only a regulatory issue trade-off — it is a question of science, coherence and common sense.
The meeting also brought a note of optimism for the tanning sector. Luis Planas Herrera, member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Jessika Roswall, indicated that the forthcoming adjustments to the regulation’s scope aim to preserve the industrial competitiveness of key sectors and ensure that the requirements and investments expected from industry remain proportionate, realistic and meaningful.
“For Tuscany, this sector means jobs, families, and communities. I am here in Brussels to defend it. Leather and hides must be excluded from Annex I of the EUDR. Not because we are against forest conservation, but because a good law must target those truly responsible for deforestation, not those who transform waste into a circular and durable material. The Delegated Act is coming in the next few weeks. I wanted to initiate this discussion now, with the Commission at the table, because the decision is being made right now. And Italy and Tuscany must make their voices heard”- said Dario Nardella, Socialists & Democrats MEP
“We have been explaining this for years: leather is not a driver of deforestation — the science is clear, from Pisa and many other studies. If implemented as it stands, the EUDR will not change deforestation — it will push European tanneries out of business, shift production elsewhere, and accelerate consolidation where only large players survive. In the end, we risk losing SMEs, distorting markets, and exporting both production and impact outside Europe — without solving the problem the regulation is meant to address.” - said Fabrizio Nuti, President of UNIC - Italian Tanneries
“The requirements of the EUDR are simply too costly. It will not be economically effective for some exporters, and they may stop exporting to the EU if their products are covered. They will find other markets.” - said Callie Stewart from the Mission of Canada to the EU
The conclusion is clear: evidence must prevail. The upcoming Delegated Act will be decisive. The time for evidence-based policymaking is now.
COTANCE will continue to engage with EU institutions and international partners to ensure that the regulatory framework reflects the realities of global value chains and upholds evidence-based policymaking
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