Deforestation free
No forest was cleared or degraded on the plot after 31 December 2020.
EUDR
The EUDR in plain words.Who does what, and what it takes.
From 30 December 2026, coffee, cacao, wood, rubber, cattle, soy and palm oil sold in the EU, and products made from them, must come from land that was not deforested after 31 December 2020, and must be produced legally. Here is what that means for you, whether you produce, process or bring it into Europe.
I manage land I buy and import
General information, not legal advice.
Three things.For every plot behind every lot.
Legal
The product was produced under the laws of the country it comes from: land rights, environment, labour, tax and trade.
Traceable
Every lot can be traced back to the plots it came from, with the location of each plot.
This applies to every product covered, from the raw crop to products made from it, such as chocolate, furniture and paper.
Who does what.From the farm to the shelf.
Producers and cooperatives
If you sell to a buyer, a processor or an exporter, you file nothing in the EU. But your buyer cannot comply without your data, so it will become a condition of buying: where each plot is, proof that no forest was cleared after 2020, and documents that show the land and the farm are legal.
Processors and exporters outside the EU
A processor or exporter that sells to a company in the EU, such as a chocolate factory or a sawmill, has no direct duty under the EUDR, but it does most of the practical work: collecting the data from farms and forests, keeping traced products apart from untraced, and passing the full package on with each lot.
The company that brings it into the EU
The first company in the EU to place the product on the market is responsible. It checks the evidence, files a due diligence statement in the EU system before the goods enter, and keeps the evidence for five years.
Traders and brands further down the chain
Companies that buy inside the EU keep the reference numbers of the statements filed before them. They do not repeat the work.
What your buyer will ask for.Four kinds of evidence.
- Where each plot is. Every plot behind every lot, located on a map.
- No deforestation after 31 December 2020. Evidence for each plot.
- Legality. The right to use the land, and that the farm follows the laws of the country.
- Lot data. Which plots each lot comes from.
Behind these four lines is a long list of details, and buyers reject lots when one is missing. In a first conversation we go through the full list with you and show you what you already have and what is missing.
Country risk.What applies where you produce.
The EU places every country in one of three risk groups. The group decides how much the company in the EU must check, and it follows the country where the product was grown, not where it was sold.
Standard risk
Full due diligence on every lot. The buyer collects the information, assesses the risk and reduces it before buying.
Low risk
Simplified due diligence. Plot locations and legality evidence are still required. A full risk assessment is only needed if there are warning signs.
High risk
The strictest checks by EU authorities.
Countries where coffee and cacao are grown
Latin America and the Caribbean
Standard risk14
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Peru
- Venezuela
Low risk5
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Trinidad and Tobago
Africa
Standard risk15
- Angola
- Cameroon
- Côte d'Ivoire
- DR Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Guinea
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Low risk10
- Burundi
- Central African Republic
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Togo
Asia and the Pacific
Standard risk3
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
Low risk12
- China
- India
- Laos
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Solomon Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Yemen
High risk1
- Myanmar
Source: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093. Countries not listed by the EU are standard risk. Checked: 15 October 2026. Full EU list for all countries
What does your country's risk group mean for your plots and your buyers? That depends on your products, your buyers and the evidence you already have.
Key dates.Plan for them now.
30 December 2026
Large and medium companies.
30 June 2027
Micro and small companies.
31 December 2020
The cut off date. Forest cleared after this date disqualifies the plot.
Common questions.Short answers.
I sell my crop to a buyer or factory in my own country. Do I have to register in the EU system?
No. Only the company that places the product on the EU market, or exports it from the EU, files a statement. But your buyer will ask you for plot locations and proof that no forest was cleared, because the company in the EU needs them.
My country is low risk. Do I still need to map my plots?
Yes. Low risk means fewer checks for the buyer, not less data. Plot locations and legality evidence are always needed.
We are a small cooperative. Do the rules apply to us?
Yes, if your products end up in the EU. Small companies in the EU get until 30 June 2027, but your buyer may need your data already for the harvest that arrives in 2027. Talk to your buyer about when, and talk to us about how.
Is one GPS point per plot enough?
It depends on the size of the plot, and many buyers ask for more than the minimum. We map the boundary of every plot, so the question does not come up.
What does the buyer's risk assessment look at?
Among other things, forest near your plots, the history of each plot since 2020, the land rights and how many steps there are between the farm and the EU. Which evidence lowers the risk for your plots is what we work out with you.
Does certification such as Rainforest Alliance or organic make my products EUDR compliant?
Not on its own. Certification can support the evidence, but the buyer still needs the location of each plot and proof for each plot.
Part of my land was cleared after 2020. Can I still sell to Europe?
Not what comes from that plot. Products from your other plots can still be sold, as long as they are kept separate. Mixing them with products of unknown origin breaks the chain for the whole lot.
Is Earth Surveillance a certification body?
No. We do not certify products as compliant. We provide the evidence for each plot: maps, satellite checks, field verification and documents, so the company that files the statement can rely on it.
THE EUDR PRODUCT
Your EUDR status.Plot by plot.
A single check of every plot behind your products: located on a map, checked by satellite against 31 December 2020, with land documents reviewed and every gap named. You know where you stand before your buyer or the authorities ask. It shows your status today. It is not a certificate of compliance.
For producers and cooperatives
A file per plot, ready for your buyer, and a list of what is still missing.
For importers
The status of every plot behind your suppliers, with the data your due diligence statement needs.
One fee, fixed scope. Checking every shipment as it leaves is part of our ongoing service.
How we help.On both sides of the chain.
Every farm and every supply chain is different. In a first conversation we look at your plots or your suppliers, what your buyers need and what is missing, and you leave with a clear next step.
For producers and cooperatives
We map every plot, check it against 2020 by satellite, put the documents in order and hand you a file per lot, ready for your buyer. The data stays yours.
For importers and brands
Evidence for each plot behind each lot, ready for your due diligence statement, and monitoring that warns you if something changes.
Official sources
- EU Deforestation Regulation, consolidated text
- EU country risk list, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093
- European Commission: EUDR implementation, guidance and FAQ
General information, not legal advice.