Overview
By promoting the consumption of ‘deforestation-free’ products and reducing the EU’s impact on global deforestation and forest degradation, the new Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products is expected to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.
The Regulation is part of a broader plan of action to tackle deforestation and forest degradation, first outlined in the 2019 Commission Communication on Stepping up EU Action to Protect and Restore the World’s Forests.
This commitment was later confirmed by the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Farm to Fork Strategy.
Delegated Regulation amending Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EU Deforestation Regulation)
Background
On 29 June 2023, the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) entered into force. The main driver of deforestation is the expansion of agricultural land linked to the production of commodities like cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and some of their derived products, such as leather, chocolate, tyres, or furniture. As a major economy and consumer of these commodities linked to deforestation and forest degradation, the EU is partly responsible for this problem and it wants to lead the way to solving it.
Under the Regulation, any operator or trader who places these commodities on the EU market, or exports from it, must be able to prove that the products do not originate from recently deforested land or have contributed to forest degradation.
The Regulation on deforestation-free products repeals the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). For timber products produced before the entry into force of the EUDR on 29 June 2023, the EUTR will continue applying until 31 December 2027. For other products and timber products produced after entry into force of the EUDR, the EUTR will be repealed when the EUDR enters into application.
In December 2024 the European Union granted a 12-month additional phasing-in period, making the law applicable on 30 December 2025 for large and medium companies and 30 June 2026 for micro and small enterprises.
Objectives
The new rules aim to
- avoid that the listed products Europeans buy, use and consume contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and globally
- reduce carbon emissions caused by EU consumption and production of the relevant commodities by at least 32 million metric tonnes a year
- address all deforestation driven by agricultural expansion to produce the commodities in the scope of the regulation, as well as forest degradation
Implementation
The EU is continuing to work with partner countries and companies to ensure a successful transition to deforestation-free supply chains.
On 15 April, the Commission provided further simplifications to the EUDR to help reduce administrative burdens and facilitate the implementation of the Regulation.
An updated Guidance Document and FAQs will provide companies, EU Member States' authorities and partner countries with simplified measures and clarifications on how to demonstrate that their products are deforestation-free. Both documents reflect the input from Member States, partner countries, businesses, and industry. This will also guarantee harmonised implementation of the law across the EU.
The simplifications introduced will be further complemented by a Delegated Act for public consultation open until 13 May, which will provide further clarifications and simplification on the scope of EUDR.
Find out more about implementation measures and tools
Designated Member States’ Competent Authorities (The list will be updated when the Commission is notified of new designations)
Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Protecting and Restoring the World’s Forests
The European Commission organises frequent meetings with EU Member States, selected interested parties (mainly trade and business associations and NGOs), and third countries to present and discuss the main strands of work and identify best practices.
- Agendas, presentations and summary records of the meetings of the Platform (In the Register, select the “Meetings” tab)
- Member Organisations of the Platform
Cocoa under the Deforestation Regulation
Are you part of the cocoa supply chain? Do you place cocoa or cocoa products on the EU market or export them from the EU? See the steps to follow to ensure that you comply with the rules.
EU observatory on deforestation and forest degradation
Building on existing monitoring tools (e.g. Copernicus and other publicly or privately available sources) the observatory will facilitate access to information on supply chains for businesses, public entities and consumers. It provides publicly available maps and datasets on changes in the world’s forest cover and associated drivers.
Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-free Value Chains
Aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the Initiative aims to support partner countries to transition to sustainable, deforestation-free, and legal agricultural value chains. The collaborative effort of the European Commission and EU Member States including Germany, the Netherlands and France, with an initial package of €70 million in funding to implement the Initiative.
See more about the Team Europe Initiative
EUDR Information System
The Information System as set out in Art. 33 of the Regulation was launched on 4 December 2024. Registration for users of the system was opened on November 2024.
Publications
- Briefing notes on sourcing of deforestation-free commodities
- Factsheet for smallholders
- Factsheet for EUDR Compliance
- Factsheet on the Commission proposal for a Regulation
- EU Deforestation Regulation: an opportunity for smallholders
- Proposal for a Regulation amending Deforestation Regulation as regards the date of application
- Communication from the Commission on a Strategic Framework for International Cooperation Engagement on Deforestation
Impact Assessment ‘Minimising the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market’:
- Executive Summary of the Staff Working Document on the Impact Assessment
- Staff Working Document on the Impact Assessment
- Public consultation on “Deforestation and forest degradation – reducing the impact of products placed on the EU market”
- Synopsis report of stakeholder consultation as part of the impact assessment on demand-side measures to address deforestation
- Consultancy Report on Impact assessment on demand-side measures to address deforestation
Fitness Check on the EU Timber Regulation and the FLEGT Regulation
A Fitness Check of the EUTR and the FLEGT Regulation was performed in 2021 to evaluate their implementation and functioning, and assess if they were fit for purpose to halt illegal logging and associated trade.
Find out more about the Fitness Check