EUDR: EU Deforestation Regulation
Ensuring timber, rubber, coffee, and other commodities sold in EU are deforestation-free
What is EUDR?
A law requiring companies to prove that products sold in the EU did not contribute to deforestation. If you export covered commodities to Europe, you must provide GPS coordinates and legal proof that your source land was not deforested after December 31, 2020.
Adopted
June 29, 2023
Large Companies
December 30, 2026
Small Companies
June 30, 2027
The 7 Commodities Covered
🐄 Cattle
Beef, leather, gelatin, tallow
Minimal EU exports
🍫 Cocoa
Chocolate, cocoa butter, cocoa powder
Minimal EU exports
☕ Coffee
Roasted coffee, instant coffee
Some EU exports — LOW impact
🌴 Palm Oil
Palm oil, food/cosmetics derivatives
Minimal EU exports
🌿 Rubber
Tires, rubber products, latex
MEDIUM — Kerala, Tripura plantations
🌱 Soy
Soybean oil, soy meal, tofu
Minimal EU exports
🪵 Wood/Timber
Furniture, paper, construction timber
HIGH — major furniture exports
India's Big Advantage: "Low Risk" Classification
India is classified as "Low Risk" for deforestation by the EU.
🔍
1%
Inspection rate at EU customs (vs 9% for high-risk)
📋
Simplified
Due diligence requirements compared to high-risk countries
🌳
Increasing
Net forest cover — India adds forest area (unlike Brazil)
Important: "Low risk" does not mean exempt. GPS data and legal proof are still required for every shipment.
The Three-Step Due Diligence Process
1
Information Collection
Gather: (A) Product info — species of wood, rubber type, quantity, country of production, supplier details. (B) GPS coordinates of ALL plots where commodity was produced (minimum 1 coordinate pair per 4 hectares). (C) Production date. (D) Legal compliance proof — land ownership, permits, labor compliance.
2
Risk Assessment
Assess risk based on: Country risk (India = Low ✓), Product risk (commodity type, region), Complexity (single-source vs mixed supply chain), Deforestation prevalence in area (satellite data).
3
Risk Mitigation
If risk is identified: seek additional documentation, conduct independent verification, engage suppliers to improve practices. If unable to mitigate: Do NOT place product on EU market.
Real Example: Indian Timber Exporter
ABC Furniture Ltd (Rajasthan) — Sheesham wood furniture — €500,000/year to Netherlands
Own Plantation (50%)
Walk boundary with GPS device. Record polygon coordinates (20 points for 50 ha). Generate KML/GeoJSON file.
Forest Dept Timber (30%)
Obtain official forest compartment maps (GPS included). Verify against satellite imagery.
Local Farmers (20%)
Visit each farm, GPS record individual trees. 30 farmers = complex! Solution: hire GPS surveyor (₹50,000).
Deforestation Check
Use Google Earth historical imagery. Verify all plots forested before Dec 31, 2020. Plantation: established 2010 ✓ Forest Dept: natural forest (100+ years) ✓
Legal Docs
Own plantation: land deed, registration. Forest Dept: auction papers, transit permits. Farmers: patta, tree cutting permissions.
Cost for this company:
₹2–3 lakh
One-time GPS mapping
₹50,000/year
Annual maintenance
₹1 lakh/year
Software
Practical Steps for Indian Exporters
Immediate (Now – 2026)
☐ Check if you're covered: Review HS codes against EUDR Annex I
☐ Map your supply chain: Identify ALL sources of timber/rubber/coffee
☐ Start GPS collection: Begin mapping plots (one-time effort, reusable)
☐ Gather legal docs: Land titles, permits, invoices
☐ Use free tools: Google Earth (historical imagery), QGIS, GPS Fields Area Measure app
☐ Join timber associations/rubber boards — collective GPS mapping solutions available
Before Dec 2026
☐ Finalize GPS database: All plots mapped and verified
☐ Test with EU buyer: Send sample data, let them attempt DDS filing, fix gaps
☐ Train team: Export dept, procurement, field staff
☐ Set up ongoing process: New suppliers require GPS + docs before purchase
Ready to plan compliance?
Our Getting Started guide helps you determine what applies and where to begin.