EU Updates EUDR Ahead of December Compliance Date

The European Union has updated its regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR), which is intended to ensure that products placed on or exported from the EU market do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation.

The regulation covers commodities including cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, and rubber, as well as certain derived products such as leather, chocolate, tires, and furniture. Operators and traders placing these products on the EU market, or exporting them from it, must be able to demonstrate that they do not originate from recently deforested land or contribute to forest degradation.

The EU amended the regulation in December 2024 and December 2025, introducing simplification measures intended to reduce administrative costs and compliance burdens for affected companies.

The EUDR will begin applying to large and medium operators on December 30. Micro and small operators will be subject to the regulation beginning June 30, 2027, while micro and small operators already covered by the EU Timber Regulation will have a December 30 compliance date.

The EUDR replaces the EU Timber Regulation and is part of the European Commission’s broader effort to reduce the EU’s contribution to global deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss.