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Environment

Regulation on Deforestation-free Products

EU rules to guarantee that the products EU citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide.

Overview

By boosting the consumption of ‘deforestation-free’ products and reducing the EU’s impact on global deforestation and forest degradation, the Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products (EUDR) aims to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.

The Regulation is a key part of the Commission's plan to tackle deforestation.

Together with cooperation initiatives, financial support and improved access to data and monitoring, the EUDR will reduce the EU's global footprint and support the transition to sustainable, deforestation-free value chains worldwide.

Read a summary of the legislation

European Commission

Objectives

The Regulation, adopted in 2023, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss by boosting the consumption of ‘deforestation-free’ products and by reducing the EU’s impact on global deforestation and forest degradation.

The rules are designed to:

  • Ensure that products consumed in the EU do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation in the EU or globally
  • Cut carbon emissions linked to EU consumption and production of the covered commodities by at least 32 million tonnes per year
  • Address deforestation driven by agricultural expansion and forest degradation linked to the commodities in scope

Background

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). 

Legislation

In December 2024 and December 2025 the European Union amended the Deforestation Regulation, introducing simplification measures which will reduce administrative costs and burden for companies covered by the Regulation.

The entry into application is:

  • Large and medium operators: 30 December 2026
  • Micro and small operators: 30 June 2027
  • Micro and small operators already covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR): 30 December 2026.

Implementation

Read the guidance on the EUDR

Find more resources for implementing and complying with the EUDR

Member States Competent Authorities

EU Member States must designate one or more competent authorities responsible for fulfilling the obligations arising from this Regulation.

Country Benchmarking

An Implementing Regulation classifies countries according to their risk of deforestation when producing the commodities covered by EUDR. The methodology is outlined in a Staff Working Document and in the Annex of the Strategic Framework. 

Multi-Stakeholder Platform on Protecting and Restoring the World’s Forests

The European Commission expert group brings together 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.

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.

Visit the Observatory

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

Impact Assessment ‘Minimising the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products placed on the EU market’: