ESG & supply chain
EU Deforestation Regulation
Published Reviewed
What is EUDR?
EUDR requires operators and traders to prove specified commodities and derived products are deforestation-free, legally produced and supported by traceable due-diligence evidence.
| Jurisdiction | European Union |
|---|---|
| Authority | Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 |
| Current status | Phased application; verify current consolidated text |
| Reviewed |
Why it matters operationally
EUDR conditions market access on proof: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya and wood — and products made from them — may only be placed on the EU market with a due-diligence statement showing the goods are deforestation-free and legally produced. The evidence unit is unusual and unforgiving: geolocation coordinates for every plot of land the commodity came from. Its application dates and product scope have been amended, so tracking the current consolidated text and implementation measures is part of complying with it.
Are you aware?
The dates that bind
Application for larger operators
Large and medium operators begin applying the regime on 30 December 2026. Micro and small operators already covered by the former EU Timber Regulation share this date.
Micro and small enterprises follow
Other micro and small operators begin applying the regime on 30 June 2027. Role, size and prior EU Timber Regulation coverage determine the date.
Penalties scale with EU turnover
Member states must provide maximum fines of at least 4% of Union-wide turnover, alongside confiscation of products and revenues and possible exclusion from public procurement.
Where to start
- 1
Map which of your products contain the seven commodities — including derived products listed in Annex I — and your role per product: operator or trader.
- 2
Secure geolocation data for plots of production and the legality evidence behind them; without coordinates there is no valid statement.
- 3
Classify sourcing countries against the Commission’s risk benchmarking and scale due diligence accordingly.
Authority links
Read the official sources
The official text is the authority. This guide is only a short orientation for operational planning.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Which products are covered?
The seven commodities — cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, wood — plus the derived products in Annex I, from leather and chocolate to tyres, furniture and printed paper. Coverage follows the annex, not intuition.
What must a due-diligence statement contain?
Confirmation that due diligence was carried out and found no more than negligible risk — backed by supply-chain information including the geolocation of every plot of land where the commodity was produced, and evidence of legal production.
Do the country risk tiers change our duties?
Yes. The Commission benchmarks countries as low, standard or high risk; low-risk sourcing allows simplified due diligence, high-risk sourcing triggers enhanced scrutiny and higher inspection rates by authorities.
Side by side
Compared against
Key terms in this guide
A quick self-check
Are you ready?
- Could you produce plot-level geolocation for your highest-volume in-scope product today?
- Do you know your role — operator or trader — for every in-scope product line?
- Is someone tracking the consolidated EUDR text and the country benchmarking list as they evolve?
Every question above has a written, evidence-backed answer in a well-run compliance record. If one made you pause, that pause is the gap.