EU Deforestation Regulation introduces new requirements for responsible production and forest protection

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The EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) aims to ensure that products consumed in the EU do not cause deforestation or forest degradation worldwide. At the same time, it aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. 

The Regulation currently covers seven products: wood, cattle and cattle offal, coffee, cocoa, soya, oil palm and rubber, and products made from them, which are listed in Annex 1 of the Deforestation Regulation.

The Regulation entered into force in June 2023, and the EU Commission has proposed to postpone its implementation. If the European Parliament and the Council approve the proposal, the Deforestation Regulation will apply from 30 December 2025 for large companies and from 30 June 2026 for micro and small companies.

The implementation of the Deforestation Regulation is guided and supervised by the national responsible authorities and customs. The competent authority in Finland is the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto).

Obligations for imports, exports and the domestic market

The Deforestation Regulation applies to imports into the EU, exports from the EU, domestic and intra-EU trade, domestic production and further processing within the EU and domestically.

The Regulation obliges operators to check that products placed on the market in the EU and exported from the EU comply with the Regulation. The operator must have a due diligence system (DD system), on the basis of which the required checks are made.

Products must meet the following conditions:

  • The products must be produced on land that has not been deforested since 31 December 2020.
  • Wood products must not cause forest degradation.
  • The products must have been produced in accordance with the legislation of the country of production.
  • The products are covered by appropriate due diligence insurance (DD insurance).

    At Algol Chemicals, we have identified the products affected by the EUDR and prepared for the measures it imposes. We supply products covered by the Regulation, such as rubber products, stearic acid and palmitic acid.

    Sources and additional information: Finnish Food Authority, European Commission

    More information

    Ida-Kaisa Kemppi, Director, Sustainability & HSEQ, p. +358 40 722 7153