Navigate EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance with confidence.
We guide you through every stage of the regulatory process, reducing implementation costs and operational disruptions while keeping your business EUDR-compliant.
Understanding EUDR
What is the EU Deforestation Regulation?
The EU Deforestation Regulation is a new European Union law designed to:
- Prevent deforestation and forest degradation
- Protect global forests
- Combat climate change
It affects businesses importing specific agricultural commodities and related products into the EU.
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Our checklist guides you through everything you need to know about the upcoming EUDR regulation changes. Download it now and make sure you're EUDR compliant.
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Scope and requirements
What does the EUDR entail and which products are covered?
The EUDR requires exporters of goods containing specific raw materials to the European market to prove that their products do not come from deforested areas or are related to deforestation in any form. This proof must be provided through a due diligence statement.
The regulation covers the following raw materials and their derivatives:
- Cattle
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Oil palm
- Rubber
- Soy
- Wood
Timeline
When does the EUDR come into effect?
The EUDR is set to take effect on December 30, 2025:
- Large businesses must comply immediately.
- Micro and small businesses have until June 30, 2026.
Compliance strategy
How can you prepare for EUDR compliance?
EUDR compliance requires businesses to prove their goods are deforestation-free through a due diligence statement. To prepare this due diligence statement, you must:
- Collect information: Gather data and documents to prove your goods are not from deforested areas
- Assess risks: Use the collected information to check if your products might be associated with deforestation.
- Mitigate risks: Reduce significant risks through additional research, surveys, testing, or independent inspections.
- Prepare due diligence statements: Be ready to submit these for your affected products.
- Download our comprehensive checklist: Prepare for EUDR compliance by downloading our checklist here.
Non-compliance consequences
EUDR penalties can severely impact your business
EUDR violations carry severe financial and operational penalties. The EU has made clear that ignorance of the legislation will not be accepted. Non-compliance consequences include:
- Financial penalties up to 4% of your annual EU turnover
- Immediate goods confiscation and supply chain disruptions
- Temporary prohibition from trading affected commodities
- Exclusion from public procurement and EU funding opportunities
UK regulations
UK Forest Risk Commodity Regulation (UKFRC)
The UK is introducing its own Forest Risk Commodity Regulation (UKFRC), aimed at minimising deforestation worldwide. While similar to the EUDR, there are differences in scope and implementation. The UKFRC is still in the legislative process with no confirmed go-live date. UK businesses, especially those in Northern Ireland, should be aware of both regulations and prepare accordingly.
Get expert EUDR guidance from our customs experts
Our EUDR services and support include:
Discovery call
A discovery call to help align our services with your needs.
EUDR goods check
We check if goods are classified correctly and confirm if the goods are affected by the EUDR.
Monthly report
A report indicating which of your shipments are affected by the EUDR.
Advisory
We guide you in setting up EUDR procedures and assist you in filling and submitting the due diligence statement.
Submitting due diligence statement
We help you in filling and submitting the due diligence statement, ensuring all required data is accurate and compliant.
Gaston Schul can directly benefit your business in EUDR compliance.
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Expertise in EUDR regulations
We have a deep understanding of the current and evolving EUDR regulations, including reporting requirements, product coverage and future expansion plans. Our team is equipped to translate these complex regulations into clear, actionable steps, guiding your business through every phase of compliance.
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Ensure accurate EUDR reporting
Our understanding of the EUDR product coverage, information requirements and obligations enable us to ensure accurate EUDR report submissions. Our team will guide you in gathering all the information you need to correctly complete your due diligence statement.
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EUDR FAQs
The EUDR became law on June 29, 2023, but compliance obligations will start on:
- December 30, 2025 - Large businesses must comply
- June 30, 2026 - Small and micro businesses must comply
From these dates, any business trading relevant commodities with the EU market must prove their products are deforestation-free through due diligence statements.
No, there will be no transitional phase for the EUDR.
The EUDR applies specifically to products containing the following raw materials:
- Cattle
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Oil palm
- Rubber
- Soy
- Wood
Annex I in Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 specifies the commodity codes of the relevant commodities and products. The area from which the goods originate is irrelevant here.
Relevant commodities and relevant products may not be placed or made available on the market or exported, unless all the following conditions are fulfilled:
- They are deforestation-free
- They have been produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production
- They are covered by a due diligence statement
As defined in Article 2(15) of the Regulation, an operator is a natural or legal person who places relevant products on the market (including through imports) or exports them in the course of commercial activity.
Operators must provide a due diligence statement with the regulated products listed above. Once the declaration is signed, the operator confirms that it has exercised due diligence. Due diligence includes the following:
- The collection of necessary information, data and documents
- Risk assessment measures
- Risk mitigation measures
Operators must provide the required information that shows compliance with the listed goods. This means that if a product, which falls under one of the categories listed above, is imported or exported, it must be accompanied by an indication of:
- Whether the product is deforestation-free
- Whether the product was produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production
- That the product is accompanied by a relevant due diligence statement
This information must be available for five years from the date of placing the goods on the market. The information must include a comprehensive product description, indicating the relevant raw materials used to manufacture the product. Other information requirements can be found in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115.
Operators carry out a risk assessment to verify the compliance of their products with the requirements of the EUDR. Products may only be placed on the market or exported if there is no or only a negligible risk of non-compliance of the relevant products. A comprehensive list of criteria can be found in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115.
If there is a risk of non-compliance, economic operators suggest applying risk mitigation procedures to the product. In this way, the risk is reduced.
The risk mitigation measures may include:
- Requiring additional information, data or documents
- Carrying out independent surveys or audits
- Taking other measures pertaining to information requirements
The regulation is set up to combat deforestation. Other objectives of the rules include: preventing products bought or used by Europeans from contributing to deforestation, reducing carbon emissions for at least 32 million tonnes a year and mapping all deforestation caused by farmland.
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2023/1115
- News article: EUDR Compliance Guide
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