The EU AI Act Simplification Is Now Law

The package that eases and reschedules parts of the EU AI Act has moved from agreement to law. The European Parliament endorsed it on 16 June, and the Council gave its final approval on 29 June.

The dates that changed

The largest change is timing. High-risk obligations for standalone Annex III systems now apply from 2 December 2027. For AI built into products already regulated under Annex I, the date moves to 2 August 2028. The delay gives European standards bodies more room to finish the technical guidance that conformity work relies on.

What has not moved

The rules on prohibited practices stay in force, and the duties on general-purpose models keep their own schedule, with Commission enforcement from 2 August 2026. The simplification changes when much of the high-risk regime bites, and trims some obligations, while leaving the framework in place. Firms in scope gain time to prepare rather than a reason to stop.

Part of our guide: EU AI Act compliance for UK organisations.