September 10, 2025
eu-deforestation-regulation
EU Country Benchmarking for Deforestation-Free Products
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) introduces a country benchmarking system that classifies countries as low, standard, or high risk for deforestation and forest degradation. While a “low-risk” classification can simplify due diligence obligations, companies are not exempt from proving full supply chain traceability and documenting the origin of raw materials. The first benchmarks published by the EU have sparked criticism for being politically influenced, with countries like Russia and Belarus marked “high risk,” while major hubs such as China and India received “low risk.” For operators, the real challenge remains: credibly tracing and documenting supply chains rather than relying solely on the benchmarking system.
