What is the EU Deforestation Regulation?

The starting point

The EU Deforestation Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, regulates the placing and making available of relevant products on the EU market and their export from it. It is a product and supply-chain regime. A general sustainability policy cannot tell a business whether a particular shipment meets its conditions.

Start with the product, identify the transaction and legal role, then follow the evidence back to the production location. The same business can have different roles for different product flows.

Three conditions, considered together

Article 3 brings together deforestation-free production, compliance with the relevant legislation of the country of production, and coverage by the required due diligence statement or simplified declaration. None of these should be assessed in isolation.

The deforestation cut-off is 31 December 2020. For wood, the definition also addresses forest degradation after that date. Legal production concerns the applicable rules identified by the regulation; an export invoice is not, on its own, a finding of legality.

Which products matter?

Seven commodities anchor the regime: cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood. Product coverage depends on the descriptions and customs classifications in Annex I. A commodity appearing in an ingredient list does not automatically settle scope.

Use the commodity and product scope guide before deciding what records to request. September 2026 changes to Annex I make current product classification particularly important.

A practical way to begin

1. Create a product register with classification, material composition and intended market flow.
2. Assign the legal role for each flow using the current definitions.
3. Identify the applicable date and any transition conditions.
4. Map production locations and the records that connect them to the product.
5. Document who reviews evidence and who can stop a release.

These are suggested preparation steps, not a substitute for the legal requirements. Read the due diligence guide for the distinction between collecting data and reaching a documented decision.

Does certification replace the EUDR?

No general certification label establishes EUDR compliance by itself. Relevant third-party evidence may support a review, but its scope, reliability and connection to the actual product still need examination. Check the current legal text and competent authority guidance for your circumstances.