EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

The new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will apply from 30 December 2024, covering commodities produced on land from 31 December 2020 onwards.

Deforestation is the purposeful clearing or cutting down of forests. This includes land for agricultural use, or land for the planting of crops and the rearing of livestock. Forest degradation is the structural conversion of primary forests to plantation forests, which in turn contributes to both global warming and the global food supply system –‍ ‍two major environmental challenges of today. Several countries have been significantly impacted by deforestation, including but not limited to Brazil, Indonesia, and Myanmar (Data source –‍ Global Forest Watch)

A number of commodities and derived products contribute to deforestation, including:

• Cattle –‍ live cattle, meat, leather
• Cocoa –‍ cocoa butter, cocoa beans, and chocolate products
• Coffee – including coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion
• Palm oil –‍ including glycerol and fatty acids derived from palm oil
• Rubber –‍ rubber gloves and tyres
• Soya –‍ soya meal and soya bean oil
• Wood –‍ furniture, paper, and packaging items

The EU is a major economy and consumer of these commodities, the EUDR establishes an assurance that the EU will not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide. Operators or traders responsible for the import/export of the aforementioned commodities and derived products to or from the EU will need to comply with EUDR requirements to ensure their commodities and products are not associated with deforestation.

Penalties for non-compliance include monetary fines, confiscation of products/revenue, and temporary exclusion from the marketplace.  

The Intertek Advantage

Intertek’s scientific and regulatory consultants have more than 30 years’ experience providing expert advice. With more than 80 professionals including regulatory specialists and supply chain experts on staff, our value lies in delivering clients successful outcomes and reduced time-to-market.

We have a wide range of regulatory services, including:

• Identifying current global regulations for foods, supplements, and animal feed
• Preparing submissions – ‍from pre-meeting packages, to complete dossiers for new active substances, to post-marketing changes – ‍for regulatory agencies worldwide
• Developing global regulatory monitoring programs to ensure products remain compliant in changing regulatory climates

Intertek now offers EUDR compliance support through its regulatory services.  

Intertek can help facilitate your EUDR compliance through:

• Support with an initial supply chain assessment and identification of all relevant commodities and products within the scope of the EUDR. This includes detailed reviews of specifications or data sheets, and identifying potential “hidden” sources that may fall under the regulation.
• Assistance with an appropriate risk assessment to meet EUDR requirements, covering all 14 mandatory pillars to complete the due diligence statement.
• Recommendations, actions, and solutions for risk mitigation, as required.

Supplier training, as required, according to relevant products and commodities within your supply chain.

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