The EUDR Is Coming. Here’s What It Means and How Treefera Can Help

With global momentum growing for more sustainable supply chains, the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) marks a significant shift in how companies source, trace, and verify agricultural commodities. The EUDR represents one of the most far-reaching efforts yet to eliminate deforestation from global commodity supply chains. For companies selling into or operating within the EU, the message is clear: prove your products are deforestation-free - or risk being shut out of the market.

At Treefera, we believe that this regulation doesn’t just present a compliance challenge — it’s an opportunity to redefine transparency in global trade.

Understanding the EUDR

The EUDR requires that products placed on, exported from, or imported into the EU market are not associated with deforestation. It applies to key commodities such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, rubber, and wood - including products derived from these materials.

At its core, the regulation mandates three things: that products are deforestation-free, legally produced in the country of origin, and accompanied by a due diligence statement (DDS). This statement must include precise geolocation data pinpointing the production area, an assessment of deforestation and forest degradation risk, and if necessary a record of any mitigation efforts undertaken.

Enforcement will begin in December 2026 for large and medium companies and in June 2027 for small and micro-sized enterprises. Importantly, the level of due diligence required will vary depending on the commodity, country of origin, and size of the company — reflecting a risk-based approach, not a one-size-fits-all rulebook.

What Has Changed

After discussions of a potential delay to the EUDR due to “IT issues”, the European Commission passed an amendment to further simplify the regulation and delay enforcement by one year in December 2025. The changes include:

• EUDR enforcement for large and medium in-scope businesses begins on 30 December 2026 and for small and micro in-scope businesses on 30 June 2027.
• In a significant change, “downstream operators” would no longer need to submit a Due Diligence Statement. This means that only one submission would be required in the TRACES system for the whole supply chain - this would be by the operator first placing the relevant products on the EU market. This Due Diligence Statement would be relied on further down the supply chain.
• New simplifications for “micro and small primary operators” who source and operate from “low-risk” countries would only be required to submit one-time simplified declarations (rather than due diligence statements) into the IT system.
• No mention of a “No Risk” country risk rating category, which was previously touted as a possibility.
• And importantly, no changes to the rigorous deforestation and forest degradation requirements and the need for geolocation at plot level.

The Commission has also committed to review the regulation and present potential legislative proposals to address administrative burdens, especially for smaller businesses, by April 2026. 

These adjustments reflect feedback from industry stakeholders and a growing recognition that EUDR compliance must be both rigorous and operationally feasible. Still, simplification does not mean diminishing the importance of the regulation’s purpose, or a lowering of the bar for evidence.

Why the First Mile Is So Critical

Even with simplified submission requirements, compliance begins far upstream — at the origin of production. Geolocation data, legal verification, and deforestation risk assessments all depend on visibility and documentation at the first mile. Without that foundational data, it is virtually impossible to prove compliance downstream.

This is particularly crucial for demonstrating that no forest degradation has taken place — a requirement for wood and wood-derived products. Unlike deforestation, degradation is harder to detect and often occurs incrementally. Identifying the transformation of a naturally regenerating forest into a plantation, for instance, requires detailed and contextual monitoring.

Defensible Data Is Non-Negotiable

The EUDR places the burden of proof on businesses. It is not enough to claim a product is deforestation-free — companies must be able to prove it with credible, traceable, and auditable data. This means accurate location mapping, long-term record keeping, and clear chains of custody that can be inspected at any time.

Historically, gathering this kind of data has been extremely difficult. It has relied heavily on manual processes — from field inspections to paper records — making it hard to keep current, nearly impossible to scale, and often riddled with inconsistencies. Verifying accuracy across complex, global supply chains has posed a persistent challenge for businesses and regulators alike.

Even with the recent updates, which simplify certain aspects of compliance, none of the core data requirements have been relaxed. Without solid data, companies remain vulnerable to reputational, legal, and commercial risks.

Treefera’s Compliance Solution for EUDR

Treefera’s new EUDR compliance product is designed to meet this challenge head-on. Built to integrate easily with existing systems, it allows companies to collect, analyze, and report the data needed to meet EU requirements — with speed, scale, and accuracy.

Our solution includes:

• Real-time geolocation mapping and historical land use analysis to identify deforestation or degradation risks.
• Risk contextualization using EU country risk ratings and client-provided documentation.
• Buffer zones around location for contextual insights.
• Exportable DDS reports aligned with EU Information System standards.

Through dashboard visualizations and mitigation tools, companies can assess exposure, take corrective action, and generate audit-ready documentation — all from a single source of truth.

Building with Flexibility, Adapting with Purpose

The EUDR will continue to evolve. Definitions may be refined, implementation timelines may shift, and risk ratings will change as more countries are assessed and benchmarked. That’s why Treefera has built not just a single solution, but a framework: one that can adapt quickly as regulations and their list of relevant commodities expand and as more companies commit to sustainable sourcing.

Getting Started

Whether you are just beginning to explore the compliance and suitability of your products or well into preparing for its enforcement, now is the time to establish a robust data strategy. Treefera offers the tools, expertise, and infrastructure to help you meet EUDR obligations — and turn regulatory readiness into competitive advantage.

To learn more, schedule a demo.