Soluble coffee has been included in the European Commission’s draft update to the scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), published as part of its Simplification Review.

The European Coffee Federation (ECF) said the change marks a step towards a more coherent regulatory framework for the sector.

Under the draft delegated act amending Annex I, soluble coffee (CN 2101 11 00) would be brought within the scope of the EUDR. The product is made from green coffee, which is already covered by the regulation. Its inclusion is intended to align treatment across coffee categories and address differences in how products are regulated within the EU market.

Previously, EU-produced instant coffee was subject to due diligence requirements, while some imported finished products were not, an inconsistency the ECF has raised with policymakers since 2023.

“Including soluble coffee in the scope would support fair competitive conditions within the internal market and reinforce the Regulation’s environmental integrity,” said Eileen Gordon-Laity, secretary general of the ECF. “Aligning requirements across coffee categories is essential for both the effective implementation of the Regulation and for operators preparing for compliance ahead of the application date.”

The ECF also pointed to environmental considerations, noting that producing 1kg of soluble coffee requires around 2.6kg of green coffee, compared with 1.19kg for roasted coffee.

The EU produces roughly 280,000 tonnes of soluble coffee annually, with major production centres in Germany, Spain and Italy.