Businesses are set to have more time to prepare for some of the most significant obligations under the EU AI Act, following the European Parliament’s approval of reforms to the legislation.
On 29 June 2026, the Council of the European Union approved amendments to the EU AI Act, following the European Parliament’s approval of the agreed text on 16 June 2026. The amendments form part of the EU’s wider Digital Omnibus package, which brings together a set of targeted amendments intended to streamline and simplify multiple pieces of EU digital legislation.
The key takeaway for businesses is that compliance deadlines for certain AI systems will be extended. In particular, the main obligations for standalone high-risk AI systems will now apply from 2 December 2027, rather than 2 August 2026.
Why this matters for UK businesses
This matters for UK businesses because the EU AI Act has extraterritorial reach. In practice, the EU AI Act can apply to non-EU businesses where they place AI systems on the EU market or where the outputs produced by an AI system are used in the EU.
For businesses, the impact of the EU AI Act will depend on two main points:
- what the AI system does; and
- the business’ role in relation to that system.
A business may be a “provider” of an AI system if it develops or supplies an AI system under its own name or trademark in the EU. A business may also be a “deployer” where it uses an AI system in its own business operations. Other roles defined in the EU AI Act, such as importer or distributor, may also be relevant depending on the supply chain.
The revised compliance timetable
| EU AI Act obligation | Businesses most likely to be affected | Original compliance date | Revised compliance date |
| High-risk AI obligations for standalone AI systems | Businesses developing, supplying or using high-risk AI systems in areas such as employment, education or critical infrastructure. | 2 August 2026 | 2 December 2027 |
| High-risk AI obligations for AI systems embedded in regulated products | Manufacturers, product suppliers and businesses placing AI-enabled regulated products on the EU market, such as medical devices, toys or machinery. | 2 August 2027 | 2 August 2028 |
| Watermarking obligations for certain AI-generated content | Providers of certain AI systems (placed on the market before 2 August 2026) that generate or manipulate audio, image, video or text content. | 2 August 2026 | 2 December 2026 |
Some obligations under the EU AI Act are already in force or remain on their existing timetable, which means that certain businesses may already need to be compliant. For example, the EU AI Act’s prohibited practices have applied since 2 February 2025, and certain obligations relating to general-purpose AI models began applying from 2 August 2025.
The amendments also make other targeted changes to the EU AI Act, including:
- reducing legislative duplication for some AI-enabled machinery products;
- extending support measures for smaller businesses;
- allowing personal data to be used in limited circumstances to help identify and correct bias in AI systems; and
- introducing new restrictions on AI systems used to create harmful synthetic content, including non-consensual images and child sexual abuse material.
The Birketts view
The revised compliance timetable may be welcomed by some businesses, as it offers more time to prepare and implement changes before key compliance deadlines. However, the extension should not be treated as a reason to pause compliance work. Instead, businesses should use this period to strengthen their AI governance frameworks, so they are better positioned to manage regulatory risk as the obligations come fully into force.
Key Contacts
Audio versions of this article are autogenerated and occasional errors in interpretation may be made. The content of this article is for general information only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. If you require any further information in relation to this article, please contact the author in the first instance. Law covered as at July 2026.