EU Deforestation Regulation — Application Date

What this countdown tracks

The clock above counts down to the application date of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on Wednesday, December 30, 2026 for large operators and traders. From this date, large companies that place or make available on the EU market — or export from the EU — cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood products plus a long list of derived goods, must conduct mandatory due diligence proving the products are deforestation-free and produced in accordance with relevant local law.

About this regulation

EUDR is Regulation (EU) 2023/1115. The original application date was 30 December 2024 but was postponed by 12 months in late 2024 and pushed further into 2026 by the Commission's simplification package, with a separate later date for SMEs (June 30, 2027). The regulation applies to seven commodities with a 31 December 2020 cut-off — products linked to land that was deforested or degraded after that date are non-compliant regardless of legal status.

Compliance hinges on four pillars: geolocation of all production plots, traceability through the supply chain, a positive due-diligence statement (DDS) submitted via the EU's TRACES NT Information System before placing goods on the market, and country-risk benchmarking by the Commission. Large operators must also assess and mitigate non-zero risk; SMEs benefit from simplified procedures. The Commission has published an EUDR FAQ guidance document and a country benchmarking methodology.

What changes

From December 30, 2026 for large operators (June 30, 2027 for SMEs):

• Every shipment of in-scope goods needs a Due Diligence Statement filed in TRACES.
• Geolocation polygons (or single coordinates for plots <4ha) are mandatory.
• Penalties up to 4% of EU annual turnover plus confiscation of goods and revenue.
• Operators must disclose the country of production and risk classification.
• Customs authorities can hold and inspect shipments based on DDS data.

Past milestones

• 2025: Commission simplification package adjusted SME timelines.
• December 2024: 12-month delay confirmed by Council and Parliament.
• June 2023: EUDR enters into force.
• May 2023: Council formally adopts the regulation.
• April 2023: European Parliament adopts the trilogue text.
• November 2021: Commission publishes the original deforestation proposal.

How to follow

Official text and guidance at environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products_en. The TRACES NT portal runs at webgate.ec.europa.eu/tracesnt. Industry trackers from Forest Trends, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and Mighty Earth. Coverage from Reuters, Politico Pro, Euractiv, and MLex.

Related countdowns

Pair this with peer EU compliance pages: EU AI Act enforcement 2026, EU CRA application 2027, EU CBAM first certificate surrender 2026, EU Pay Transparency 2026, CSRD wave 2 first reporting 2028, and EU MiCA transitional period end 2026.

FAQ

When does the EUDR start applying? December 30, 2026 for large operators; June 30, 2027 for SMEs. Where does it apply? Anywhere in-scope goods are placed on or exported from the EU single market. Why does the EUDR matter? It is the first major jurisdiction to impose mandatory deforestation-free due diligence with geolocation at scale. What commodities are covered? Cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood — plus derived products like leather, chocolate, paper, furniture, and tires.