The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): What companies need to know now

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a central component of the European sustainability strategy. Its aim is to ensure that products placed on the EU market do not contribute to global deforestation or forest degradation. The regulation applies in particular to raw materials such as wood, soy, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, rubber, and cattle, as well as products made from them.

Who is affected?

The EUDR applies to all companies that place relevant products on the market or export them in the EU, regardless of whether they are producers, distributors, or importers. Large and medium-sized companies must comply with the requirements from December 30, 2025, and small and micro-enterprises from June 30, 2026.

What are the key requirements?

In future, companies will have to prove that their products are deforestation-free. This includes:

• Due diligence obligations: Companies must conduct and document a risk analysis of their supply chains
• Geolocation: The exact place of origin must be verified for affected products
• Risk assessment and mitigation: Risk minimization measures are required in the event of increased risk
• Due diligence statements: These must be submitted electronically via a central EU information system before the products are placed on the market

New guidelines and simplifications

In April 2025, the EU Commission published new guidelines intended to facilitate the implementation of the EUDR. These include, among other things:

• Option to reuse existing due diligence declarations
• Companies may submit due diligence declarations annually instead of for each individual shipment or batch
• Simplification for corporate groups through centralized submission
• Introduction of country benchmarking for risk classification (low, standard, high)

These measures are intended to reduce administrative burdens and make implementation more practical for companies.

Our service: Systematic EUDR compliance

We provide comprehensive support in implementing the requirements of the EU Regulation on deforestation-free supply chains in a customized, pragmatic, and efficient manner. As part of a structured readiness check, we analyze your supply chains and products for impact and assist you in risk assessment and the development of concrete measures to fulfill your due diligence obligations. Our experts also support you in preparing your annual EUDR-compliant reporting, tailored to existing requirements such as CSRD and CSDDD. 

Further information can be found in the EUDR product sheet:

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