EUDR (EU deforestation regulation)

In short

The EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) is Regulation (EU) 2023/1115. It covers cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, and many products made from them. To place them on the EU market or export them from it, the operator must show that the goods were produced on land not deforested after 31 December 2020, were produced legally, and are covered by a due diligence statement submitted in the EU information system, with the geolocation of the plots of land.

The application date was postponed by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650: 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators and traders, and 30 June 2027 for micro and small ones. The text may still be adjusted, so check the Commission page.

The EUDR is not a certificate and no certification replaces the due diligence. A recognised sustainability certificate can help as evidence, but the operator remains responsible. Brazil nuts, cashew and most fruit are not on the list of covered commodities; coffee, cocoa, soy and beef are, and Brazil is a major supplier of all four.

What it covers

• Deforestation-free production: no conversion of forest after 31 December 2020
• Legality under the laws of the country of production
• Traceability to the plot of land, with geolocation data
• A due diligence system run by the EU operator

What it does not cover

• It is not a certification and no certificate replaces the due diligence
• It does not cover food safety, organic or social conditions

Who asks for it

EU importers and traders of the listed commodities, who ask their Brazilian suppliers for geolocation data and legality documents.

How to check compliance

Ask the supplier for plot geolocation, land and environmental legality documents, and traceability by lot. The EU importer then files the due diligence statement.

How a company prepares

1. Map the plots of land and collect their geolocation
2. Gather land-tenure and environmental legality documents
3. Set up traceability from plot to shipment, by lot
4. Share the data with the importer and keep records up to date

Questions