EUDR: What does the Regulation on Deforestation-free Products mean for you?
From 30 December 2026, you may not market products that contribute to deforestation or damage to forests. You must be able to show where your raw materials come from. This also applies to products such as chocolate, leather, and furniture, that contain certain raw materials. Read what the new European deforestation-free products law means for you.
On this page
- What is the EUDR?
- Who does the EUDR apply to?
- Do small businesses have to comply with the EUDR?
- Which products and goods are covered by the EUDR?
- What does the EUDR mean for you?
- A due diligence system
- Take measures if necessary
- What you must do if you do not need to keep a due diligence system
- Inspection by NVWA and checks by Customs
What is the EUDR?
The EUDR is a European law to combat the disappearance of and damage to forests. The law states:
- From 30 December 2026, you must be able to prove that your product has not caused damage to forests.
- If your product comes from an area that has been deforested after 30 December 2020 you may not import it, bring it to the European market, or export it.
The EUDR follows on from the EUTR, which set out the rules for the import of timber and timber products.
Who does the EUDR apply to?
The EUDR applies to all importers and traders who want to do business by:
- importing products or raw materials into the EU
- producing products or raw materials within the EU, or
- exporting products or raw materials from the EU.
The law applies to large and small companies. This includes SMEs and sole proprietorships (eenmanszaken).
Do small businesses have to comply with the EUDR?
Is your business an SME or a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak)? The EUDR does apply to you too. But the rules you must comply with may differ from the ones applying to larger businesses:
- Are you not the first trader to bring the product onto the market? And are you trading in the product without making any changes to it? Then you do not need to draw up a due diligence statement (zorgvuldigheidsverklaring). However, you must record and store important information.
- Are you bringing the product to market for the first time? And do these products not yet have a due diligence statement? Then you must comply with all the EUDR requirements.
When do you need to comply with the EUDR?
For SMEs and sole proprietorships (eenmanszaken), the date on which the EUDR takes effect may be different:
- Do you not trade in timber or products that contain wood? Then you must comply with the new rules from 30 June 2027.
- Do you trade in timber? Or in products that contain wood? If so, you must comply with the rules from 30 December 2026. Even if your business is an SME.
Other adjustments for smaller businesses may still be implemented.
Read more about the changes to the EUDR – Deforestation Regulation on the NVWA website.
Which products and goods are covered by the EUDR?
The EUDR applies to 7 raw materials:
- cocoa
- coffee
- wood
- soya
- palm oil
- rubber
- cattle (beef)
The EUDR also applies to products made with these raw materials. Most of these products come from Asia, North America, and South America, but some also come from Africa. Some European products may also be covered by the law.
What does the EUDR mean for you?
Do you have to comply with the EUDR? Then from 30 December 2026 you must make a due diligence statement (in Dutch) for each shipment and upload it in TRACES. This is a European customs system. Without this statement, you are not allowed to put products on the European market.
KVK Import Tool
Find out more about importing consumer goods into the Netherlands with the KVK Import Tool.
A due diligence system
In the due diligence statement, you put details about your company and the origin of the products and raw materials. This is called a due diligence system. In this you must, for example:
- indicate the origin of the products very precisely with a geolocation
- carry out research, assess risks, and take measures to limit these risks
- self-declare that there is little or no risk of deforestation
Setting up a due diligence system
Setting up a due diligence system can be a lot of work. You can hire a company to help you with this. You can also set up a due diligence system (in Dutch) yourself. You must then arrange at least 3 things:
- You collect data on the origin of your product.
- You carry out risk analyses.
- You take measures to mitigate risks.
Keep your due diligence system up to date
Your due diligence system is not something you just set up and then leave as it is. If your circumstances change, you must adapt it.
Take measures if necessary
If your research shows that your production process comes with risks of deforestation or damage to the forest, you should take extra measures. For instance, buy products that are certified. Or do extra checks on-site and keep records of these checks. You can also hire someone to do this for you.
What you must do if you do not need to keep a due diligence system
Do you not need to keep a due diligence system? For example, because you are an SME trader. Or because you only use raw materials that are already on the market? If so, you must:
- keep a record of the supplier from whom you buy your products or raw materials
- keep a record of who you sell to
- provide the reference numbers of your suppliers' due diligence statements to customs
- keep this documentation for 5 years
Inspection by NVWA and checks by Customs
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) may inspect your business (in Dutch) to assess whether you meet all the requirements of the EUDR. The Customs Administration of the Netherlands (Douane) checks the goods and the due diligence statements.