News and changes
New implementing acts, guidelines and positions of competent authorities — and what they mean in practice.
Can I organize the EUDR retention obligation of five years myself?
You can technically organize the five-year retention obligation under the EUDR yourself, but practice shows where this often falls short and when outsourcing is the smarter choice.
Read more →Has the EUDR record-keeping obligation of five years changed this year?
The core of the record-keeping obligation under the EUDR has not been modified this year; what has shifted are the application dates of the regulation, and these indirectly determine when those five years will start running for you.
Read more →The most common mistake in EUDR's five-year storage obligation
Many SMEs keep the due diligence declaration number, but not the underlying documents that support the declaration. This article shows where that goes wrong and how to prevent it.
Read more →What documents do you need for the EUDR declaration on soya?
An overview of the documents that belong to a EUDR file for soya, with attention to the issue that most frequently arises with this commodity: the bulk processing that makes traceability per plot more difficult.
Read more →How long does it take to gain access to the EU information system for the Deforestation Regulation?
Registration in the EU information system is not a matter of a few clicks. This article shows which steps access requires and where companies in practice experience delays.
Read more →What does collecting geolocation data for the EUDR cost?
There is no fixed amount for EUDR geolocation data: costs depend on the number of suppliers and countries, the type of data you need, and whether you do it yourself or receive support.
Read more →Does the EUDR apply to soya?
Soya is listed as a commodity in the EUDR, but not every product containing soya automatically falls under the regulation. This article explains when soya does and does not affect your business.
Read more →From when does the EUDR retention period of five years begin to run?
The five-year storage obligation sounds straightforward, but the start date is the detail where SMEs stumble. This article explains which moment starts the clock and what that means for your record-keeping.
Read more →What happens if I don't provide the DDS reference number to my buyer?
In the EUDR, the supply chain depends on a reference number: if you don't pass it on, your buyer cannot fulfill their own obligation. This article explains what that means in practice.
Read more →Submitting an EUDR declaration: does it differ per EU country?
The EU information system for the EUDR declaration is one system for the entire Union, but who may submit the declaration and who oversees it depends on where your business is established and in which country you are active.
Read more →Can I build my EUDR file myself?
You can assemble an EUDR file per product stream yourself, but combining suppliers, geodata and risk classification requires a structure that is difficult to maintain with a spreadsheet.
Read more →Does the submission of the EUDR declaration change this year?
An overview of what may change in submitting the EUDR declaration and using the EU information system, and what is and is not fixed for SMEs.
Read more →The most common mistake with the EU information system under the Deforestation Regulation
Many SMEs fill in the deforestation-free product declaration carefully, but run into problems with the practical side of the EU information system itself. These are the errors that occur most frequently there.
Read more →What documents do you need for the EUDR declaration on rubber?
An overview of the documents you collect for a EUDR declaration on rubber, and why tracing the origin down to the rubber tree is often the most challenging part with this particular feedstock.
Read more →How long does it take to build a complete EUDR dossier?
There is no legal deadline for building an EUDR dossier, but practice shows a clear pattern: most of the time is not spent on administration, but on waiting for your supplier.
Read more →What does it cost to retain your EUDR documents for five years?
The EUDR Regulation does not specify an amount for retaining documents, but it does set out what you must retain and for how long. This article explains where costs come from and what determines them.
Read more →Does the EUDR apply to rubber, such as car tyres or shoe soles?
An overview of what falls under the raw material rubber within the EUDR: from natural latex to car tyres, and why synthetic rubber remains outside the scope.
Read more →What is the EU information system for the Deforestation Regulation?
The EU information system is the digital platform where declarations of due diligence for the Deforestation Regulation are submitted and where each declaration receives a reference number and a verification number that are passed along the supply chain.
Read more →What happens if your supplier's geolocation data is incorrect?
Incorrect or incomplete geolocation data undermines the core of your EUDR dossier. This article describes what happens in practice if that data turns out to be inaccurate and what you should watch out for.
Read more →Requesting origin data from a foreign supplier: what is different?
When sourcing raw materials from abroad, you will notice that the conversation about origin data differs from dealing with a local supplier. This article explains where that difference comes from and what you need to take into account.
Read more →Can I validate the EUDR geolocation data myself?
You can perform much of the validation of geolocation data yourself, but with larger volumes or multiple suppliers, manual validation quickly reaches practical limits.
Read more →Have the geolocation requirements of the DEFORESTATION REGULATION changed this year?
An overview of what has and has not been adjusted this year regarding the geolocation obligation under the DEFORESTATION REGULATION, and what remains a proposal rather than established law.
Read more →The most common mistake when discussing origin data with your supplier
Many SME importers ask too late, too vaguely, or only once for origin data from their supplier. This article shows where things go wrong and how to conduct the conversation better.
Read more →What documents do you need for the EUDR declaration on wood?
For wood products, the EUDR declaration requires more than just trading papers: proof of legality, geolocation of the felling area and species identification are part of it, and for composite products like furniture this is built up per component.
Read more →How long does it take to submit a EUDR declaration?
Technical submission in the information system is often a matter of minutes; the processing time lies in what must happen beforehand. An overview of the steps and where they typically cause delays in practice.
Read more →What does it cost to prepare an EUDR due diligence declaration?
The cost of a due diligence declaration depends on the number of product streams, the risk classification of countries of origin, and the amount of geolocation data you need to collect — no fixed price, but a number of clearly defined cost items.
Read more →Does the EUDR also apply to paper, cardboard and printed matter?
Paper and cardboard do not automatically fall under the EUDR: what determines this is the commodity code of your product, not the raw material wood as such.
Read more →Must you submit a point or a polygon for EUDR geolocation?
EUDR does not require the same geolocation data for every plot: the area determines whether a single coordinate point is sufficient or whether a polygon is needed.
Read more →What happens if I do not submit a deforestation regulation declaration?
An overview of what the deforestation regulation states about failing to submit a due diligence declaration: what that means for placing your product on the market and where you can verify this yourself.
Read more →Geolocation data from abroad: what differs by country of origin?
Requesting and validating geolocation data does not proceed the same way in every country: cadastral systems, measurement methods and document formats vary. This article explains what you need to take into account.
Read more →Can I conduct the EUDR risk assessment myself?
The risk assessment is the core of the EUDR obligation and remains legally with the market participant. This article explains what you can perform yourself, where it becomes complex, and what support can and cannot take over.
Read more →Has the EUDR entry date changed this year?
The EUDR dates were adjusted in the past year: this article explains exactly what has changed, who it applies to, and what remains unchanged.
Read more →What is the most common mistake when submitting geolocation data for the EUDR?
The most frequent error is that geolocation data are submitted but do not match the actual plot: wrong format, an address instead of coordinates, or data that have not been updated per harvest.
Read more →What documents do you need for the EUDR declaration for cocoa?
An overview of the documents required for a cocoa supply chain in the EUDR declaration, with particular attention to the item that most often causes delays for cocoa: the geolocation data of many small, scattered parcels.
Read more →How long does it take to request origin data from your supplier?
There is no fixed deadline for requesting origin data: the processing time depends on your supply chain, your supplier, and how early you start. This article explains where delays usually occur and how to minimize them.
Read more →What does an EUDR file cost per product stream?
The costs of an EUDR file vary considerably depending on the product stream: it depends on the number of suppliers, the risk classification of the country of origin and how complete your geolocation data already are.
Read more →Does the EUDR also apply to leather and cattle products?
Cattle is one of the seven commodities under the EUDR, and the associated annex extends beyond live animals and meat. This article explains which products with a leather or cattle component may fall under the regulation and how you can verify this for your own assortment.
Read more →What are geolocation data in the EUDR exactly?
Geolocation data are the coordinates of the plot where a raw material was produced; for larger plots, the full perimeter must be provided, not just a single point.
Read more →What happens if I don't keep my EUDR documents for five years?
The EUDR requires operators and traders to keep underlying documents for five years. This article describes what this obligation entails and what can go wrong in practice if files are not kept complete.
Read more →EUDR legality by country of origin: what's different?
The EUDR refers to 'legally produced' according to the national legislation of the producing country, and that legislation varies considerably from country to country. This article explains what that means in practice for your documentation.
Read more →Can I submit the EUDR declaration myself?
You can submit the due diligence declaration yourself in the EU information system, provided your file is complete. This article explains where self-filing ends and where guidance or outsourcing begins.
Read more →Will the EUDR risk classification of countries change this year?
The EU may periodically adjust the risk classification of countries (low, standard, high). This does not affect your role, but it does affect the depth of your due diligence statement.
Read more →What goes wrong most often when submitting the EUDR declaration?
The most common mistake in the due diligence declaration under Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 is not in data collection, but in the reference number you use to link to an earlier actor in the supply chain. This article shows how things go wrong and how you can prevent it.
Read more →What documents do you need for the deforestation regulation declaration for coffee?
An overview of the documents you collect as a coffee importer for a due diligence file under Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, with attention to the point where coffee often encounters difficulties: the mixing of batches from multiple plots.
Read more →How long does it take to collect geolocation data from your suppliers?
There is no fixed deadline in the regulation for requesting geolocation data from suppliers. In practice, the processing time varies widely, and this article shows where delays typically occur.
Read more →What does EUDR compliance cost for an SME?
The regulation does not stipulate a fixed amount. This article explains which choices and supply chain characteristics determine what EUDR compliance actually costs you.
Read more →Does the EUDR also apply to processed products such as furniture or chocolate?
Not only raw materials fall under the deforestation regulation: a range of processed products also fall under it, linked to a fixed list of customs codes.
Read more →Am I a market participant or trader under the EUDR?
The EUDR makes a clear distinction between operator and trader, and this distinction determines which obligations and which entry date apply to you.
Read more →The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) sets new requirements for companies importing or trading products with high deforestation risk. This legislation is designed to protect the European market against products resulting from illegal or unlawful deforestation. For many SMEs in the Netherlands and Europe, this means a significant shift in how they organize and document their supply chain.
The regulation focuses on eight major product groups: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, wood, rubber and conversion products thereof. This also includes processed products in which these raw materials are incorporated. So not only direct importers, but also many smaller businesses in the processing and trading chain are affected.
What makes EUDR so far-reaching? From January 2025, companies must be able to demonstrate that their products do not originate from deforestation or illegally felled wood. This requires extensive traceability: from the moment of production to your warehouse. You must have information about the location of the land from which the raw materials come, and be able to prove that no deforestation has occurred after December 2020.
For many SMEs, this is a complex task. Suppliers must be able to honestly communicate where their products come from. This can be difficult for smaller players, especially if they work with multiple intermediaries. Nevertheless, compliance is essential: non-conformity leads to fines and risks to your market position.