The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

Confor hosted a webinar on Monday 20 May 2024 to provide information on EUDR - see link.

These two documents help to explain the requirements for placing timber on to the EU market. One is produced by the European Timber Trade Federation and the second is by the French Sawmilling Association.

TDUK has shared their 24 September update on EUDR. This contains details about the system used for uploading DDS and geolocation data. There is no update on country benchmarking at this time.

Online training on how to use the EUDR Information System has been made available. However, it appears that all these trainings are already fully booked due to the maximum number of applicants reached.

Members are advised to follow closely the EUDR page of the European Commission for any potential new updates in the coming days and weeks.

EU Deforestation Rules Confirm UK as Low-Risk – What It Means for UK Forestry and Timber Trade

As of 22 May 2025, the European Commission has confirmed the UK’s designation as a low-risk country under its new Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), which comes into effect on 30 December 2025 for large and medium-sized operators and traders. This regulation introduces strict due diligence requirements for companies importing key commodities—such as timber, coffee, and soy—into the EU. However, for countries deemed low risk, including the UK, businesses will benefit from reduced compliance checks and simplified due diligence, providing a clear competitive edge in trade with EU markets.

The classification system is built on scientific, internationally recognised data and is designed to identify where deforestation risks are lowest and highest. Countries like the UK, now formally listed in the EU’s low-risk annex, will only be subject to 1% annual compliance checks. This is a significant reduction compared to up to 9% for high-risk countries. The system not only reduces the administrative burden for UK exporters but also signals strong alignment between UK forest governance and EU sustainability standards—encouraging further collaboration and stability in timber and agricultural trade.

See the news release from the EU Commission.

EUDR Simplifications Announced – What It Means for UK Timber Businesses

In April 2025, the European Commission introduced a package of simplifications to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aimed at easing the compliance burden for businesses while maintaining the regulation’s environmental objectives. For UK timber producers exporting to the EU, key changes include the ability to submit due diligence statements (DDS) annually rather than for each consignment, the reuse of DDS for re-imports of the same product, and the option to appoint a representative to submit DDS on behalf of a company group. These adjustments are designed to reduce red tape, especially for larger operators dealing with repeated or high-volume trade.

Crucially for the UK sector, the updated guidance also clarifies the scope of the EUDR, excluding items like packaging materials, test samples, and waste from its requirements. With the UK confirmed as a low-risk country under the EU’s benchmarking system, these simplifications further strengthen the position of UK timber businesses by reducing costs and compliance complexity. The EUDR will apply from 30 December 2025 for large companies and from 30 June 2026 for small and micro-enterprises, giving UK exporters time to adapt and take advantage of the streamlined procedures.

Read updated guidance.