What is EUDR? The EU Deforestation Regulation Explained
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) prohibits products linked to deforestation. Complete guide on requirements, final product scope, 2026/2027 deadlines, and compliance.
- Guides
- 10
- Languages
- RO + EN
- Updated
- 2026-08-06
What is EUDR?
Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, known as EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation), is legislation adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on 29 June 2023. Its primary purpose is to ensure that products placed on the European market or exported from the EU are not associated with deforestation or forest degradation.
Why was EUDR adopted?
The European Union is one of the world's largest consumers and importers of commodities linked to deforestation. Between 1990 and 2020, the world lost approximately 420 million hectares of forest. EU consumption is responsible for roughly 10% of global deforestation.
EUDR replaces Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 (the EU Timber Regulation) and significantly expands its scope from timber alone to seven key commodities and their derived products.
Which products are covered?
The regulation covers seven commodities: timber, palm oil, soy, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and cattle. It also includes derived products such as furniture, chocolate, tyres, and paper. The product list (Annex I) was finalised by the delegated act adopted on 13 July 2026: cattle hides and leather, retreaded tyres, soybeans for sowing and vulcanised rubber articles are out of scope, while soluble coffee, certain palm oil derivatives and frozen cattle tongues join the scope from 30 December 2027.
Key requirements
- Due diligence obligation — operators and traders must demonstrate that products are deforestation-free
- Geolocation — GPS coordinates of all production plots must be provided
- Cut-off date — products must originate from land that has not been deforested after 31 December 2020
- Due diligence statement — an electronic statement must be submitted in the EU information system before placing products on the market
Compliance timeline
Although the regulation entered into force on 29 June 2023, the compliance deadlines have been postponed twice. Following the targeted revision adopted on 18 December 2025, large and medium operators must comply by 30 December 2026, and small and micro operators (non-timber products) by 30 June 2027. See the full timeline for details.
Latest update — July 2026
On 13 July 2026, the Commission adopted the delegated act finalising the product scope (Annex I) and the implementing act on the Information System, closing out the simplification package published on 4 May 2026 (press release IP/26/941). The updated guidance document is now available in all EU languages. Headline estimate: ~75% reduction in annual compliance costs compared to the original EUDR. Deadlines unchanged. Full legal walkthrough on the simplification review page.
Who must comply?
Operators placing products on the EU market or exporting them, as well as traders making these products available on the market, are subject to EUDR obligations. Requirements vary depending on the size of the enterprise and the risk classification of the country of origin.
Additional resources
For practical compliance guides, visit eudr.solutions. For EUDR news and updates, see eudr.today. Also consult the frequently asked questions or the glossary of terms for further clarification. eudr.live is published by Sustainability Today, the sustainability compliance platform for timber, forestry and supply chain operators.
The EUDR Library
Guides and analysis on the EU Deforestation Regulation