EU Deforestation Regulation: Engagement with non-EU countries

Communication from the Commission on the Strategic Framework for International Cooperation Engagement in the context of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093 of 22 May 2025 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a list of countries that present a low or high risk of producing relevant commodities for which the relevant products do not comply with Article 3, point (a)

Update

In May 2025 the European Commission adopted a new Regulation that classifies countries according to three levels of deforestation risk (low, standard, and high) in relation to the commodities covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The country classification is available in the Annex to the Regulation.

The European Commission previously published a Communication on engagement with non-EU countries in relation to halting deforestation and successfully implementing the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Communication explains the process the Commission will use to classify (or “benchmark”) countries as low, standard, or high risk. Country classification will determine the type of due diligence assessment EU companies must make, and the frequency of controls by EU Member State authorities. The Communication also provides an overview of ongoing EU initiatives that support exporting countries in preparing for implementation of the EUDR and sustainable deforestation-free production.

Impacted Products

Cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya

What is changing?

In May 2025 the European Commission adopted Regulation 2025/1093, which classifies producing countries according to three levels of deforestation risk (low, standard, and high) in relation to the commodities covered by the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR, Regulation 2023/1115): cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soya, and wood. The country classification is available in the Annex to the Regulation.

Countries not classified as low or high risk fall into the standard risk category. None of these risk categories will lead to a ban on products.

This classification determines the extent of the controls that EU Member States must carry out to ensure that affected products placed on the market comply with Art. 16 of the EUDR. Each year, EU national authorities must control a minimum number of operators supplying the affected products to the EU market:

• low-risk countries, 1% of operators
• standard-risk countries, 3% of operators
• high-risk countries, 9% of operators plus 9% of the quantity of each relevant product.

EU operators (buyers) sourcing from low-risk countries also benefit from simplified due diligence requirements. This means that, on request by the EU competent authority, the EU operators only have to provide information demonstrating that there is a negligible deforestation risk linked to the products (Art. 13 of the EUDR). Note, however, that suppliers from low-risk countries must still provide the same information (for example concerning traceability, geolocation, legality), so that their EU buyers can demonstrate negligible risk of deforestation.

Benchmarking

The methodology used for this classification is outlined in a Staff Working Document (European Commission 2025). Countries subject to sanctions by the UN Security Council or the Council of the EU on imports or exports of the relevant commodities/products are automatically classified as high risk, as it is impossible to conduct due diligence along the value chains in these countries. Benchmarking is based mainly on data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), including hectares of forest loss per year and percentage of forest cover lost annually.

There will be regular reviews of the country classifications, with a first review foreseen for 2026.

Support for non-EU countries

The EU will enter into bilateral dialogues with exporting countries to identify and support sustainable and deforestation-free production. Current initiatives include:

• Sustainable Agriculture for Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) programme: active in Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Zambia to support smallholders to transition to deforestation-free supply.
• Technical Facility on Deforestation-free Value Chains: providing, on request, expertise on technical requirements (e.g. geolocation, land-use mapping, and traceability).
• Forest Partnerships: focused on improving forest governance and ensuring sustainability of trade in forest products.
• AL-INVEST Verde: in 12 Latin American countries, supporting the transition to sustainable production models.
• EUDR Engagement in Southeast Asia: dialogue and training on the key traceability requirements.
• Sustainable Cocoa Initiative: in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, with activities including capacity building to monitor deforestation, development of traceability systems, and improvement of standards and certification.
• Multi-stakeholder Platform on Protecting and Restoring the World’s Forests: brings together participants, including from non-EU countries, meeting regularly to discuss preparation for EUDR implementation.
• Terre Verte programme: supporting development of workers’ agriculture and forestry sectors as part of the EU–Morocco Green Partnership.

Timeline

The Strategic Engagement Framework provides a basis for ongoing cooperation with partners and stakeholders through outreach, dialogue, and dedicated support measures.

Background

Under the EUDR, the Commission has committed to engaging in a coordinated way with producer countries and developing a strategic framework for this engagement (Regulation 2023/1115, Art. 30.1). The Strategic Engagement Framework is based on the following principles:

• continue dialogue and cooperation with relevant non-EU countries
• support for actions
• building on good practices
• supporting stakeholder engagement in non-EU countries
• human rights-centred approach
• transparency and access to information
• synergies with other EU policy initiatives
• coordination with relevant development partners.

Resources

Sources