The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requires producers, exporters, and traders of specific commodities within the European Union to prioritise transparency and accountability. This regulation aims to prevent the purchase and consumption of goods contributing to deforestation within the EU. Recently, the European Commission has extended the implementation timeline, granting businesses additional preparation time. This article outlines the key updates and compliance requirements for EUDR.

Recent updates of the EUDR

The EUDR builds on the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR)by expanding its scope to include commodities such as cocoa, soya and coffee among others. The regulation enforces stricter traceability standards for these goods to ensure they are not linked to deforestation.

Originally set to take effect on December 30, 2024, the regulation’s implementation has been delayed by one year, now starting on December 30, 2025. This delay allows all affected stakeholders more time to prepare for the extensive requirements of the EUDR. Despite some controversy over the delay, the European Commission has issued guidance documents to assist businesses in understanding and meeting compliance standards.

Steps to Compliance

Central to EUDR compliance is the ‘Due Diligence Statement’ which ensures that commodities are traceable and do not contribute to deforestation. Businesses must follow three critical steps:

1. Information Gathering: Collect detailed data on the origin of commodities, including sourcing practices and compliance with local laws.

2. Risk Assessment: Evaluate environmental and social risks associated with sourcing regions.

3. Risk Mitigation: Implement measures to address and reduce identified risks.

Each due diligence statement must be maintained for all products, including those sourced from the same land. Operators and traders are required to set up systems to manage this information efficiently.

Due Diligence Statement Requirements

To meet due diligence obligations, operators must adhere to the sourcing country’s legal frameworks, as well as relevant regional and international agreements.

Acceptable documentation includes:

• Administrative permits

• Contracts with indigenous peoples

• Impact assessments

• Environmental audit reports

• Company policies and codes of conduct

• Reports on social responsibility and rights claims

These documents must be submitted via the Deforestation Registry, a digital platform established by the European Commission to streamline compliance. The registry, open since November 6, allows operators, traders, and representatives to upload and manage their data efficiently.

Risk Categories

Countries are assigned risk profiles—low, standard, or high—based on environmental and social risks associated with commodity production in those regions. This classification reflects the environmental integrity of the sourcing area and the prevalence of social issues such as land rights disputes or worker exploitation:

• Low-risk areas: Operators may need to only collect basic information about the commodities they are sourcing. These areas typically have strong governance, robust environmental laws, and minimal evidence of deforestation. Simplified due diligence requirements reduce administrative burdens for operators.

• Standard and high-risk areas: Full due diligence is mandatory for these regions, which are often linked to deforestation, weak legal enforcement, or significant social challenges. Operators must conduct detailed assessments and implement risk mitigation strategies. Products from high-risk areas face increased scrutiny from authorities, including more frequent shipment checks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive compliance.

What is the key to ensuring EUDR compliance?

Ensuring compliance with the EUDR requires organisations to have a strong traceability and monitoring system in place. This outlines several functional requirements for the monitoring system.

• The monitoring system should provide real-time and customised risk data at national and regional levels for product origins.

• This data should be consolidated from reputable databases to ensure information reliability and offer valuable insights for action and risk mitigation.

• The system should enable simplified collaboration with upstream and downstream stakeholders to facilitate compliance requests.

Ensuring Compliance in Practice

Compliance with the EUDR requires organisations to integrate robust systems for traceability and risk assessment into their operations. Tools and platforms that enable efficient data collection, documentation, and monitoring are essential to managing the complexities of due diligence processes.

By utilising resources such as industry-standard databases and sustainability risk assessment frameworks, businesses can classify risk areas, gather the necessary documentation, and address potential compliance gaps effectively. Collaboration across supply chain stakeholders and continuous improvement in monitoring systems will be crucial to achieving compliance and fostering transparency.

How can Agriplace help?

Agriplace can help with your EUDR compliance needs through its database connections, sustainability risk assessment platform and supply chain transparency.

At Agriplace we have a direct connection to some of the most well-known databases in the food industry. With partners such as the FSSC and Planet Proof, Agriplace can make document management simple.

If you have any further questions about what Agriplace can do to help with your EUDR compliance, contact us here.