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Deforestation: important shipping changes to be aware of

What you need to know

The new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a part of the European Green Deal initiative.

The stated goal is to minimize the European Union (EU) market’s impact on global deforestation, forest degradation and biodiversity loss.

It is also designed to promote deforestation-free supply chains, reduce the EU’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and protect human rights and the rights of Indigenous people.

What it means for you

Eligible goods

If you export (or import) the following goods to (or from) any of the EU27 Member States*, then your importer (or exporter) in the EU will be required to prove that these goods do not originate from recently deforested areas or contribute to forest degradation:

  • palm oil
  • cattle

  • soy 

  • coffee
  • cocoa
  • timber
  • rubber
  • palm oil
  • cattle
  • soy
  • coffee
  • cocoa
  • timber
  • rubber

Products derived from those commodities (such as beef, furniture, chocolate or books) are also in scope as are commodities and their derivatives being re-imported into the EU and being released for free circulation.
 

When should your business be compliant

As of December 30, 2025, the Deforestation Regulation will impose due diligence obligations on importers and exporters based in the EU. Businesses will be obliged to undertake the due diligence to ensure that in-scope goods are deforestation-free and produced in compliance with all applicable and relevant laws in force in the manufacturing country.

Due diligence statement (DDS)

Businesses placing in-scope products on the EU market or exporting such products from the EU will be required to create a due diligence statement (DDS) in a new EU Information System, proving that the relevant checks have been completed to satisfy the requirements of the regulation. The DDS should include:

  • Gathering geographic information (i.e. satellite imagery) on the plot of land from which the commodities were sourced;

  • Assessing the risk of non-compliance to the EU deforestation-free regulation; and
  • Mitigating risks to negligible levels.

The unique DDS reference number will have to be quoted on the import/export customs declaration. Your importer/exporter in the EU must share the DDS reference number with FedEx prior to customs clearance in the EU.

Calendar with the date of Monday December 30
Calendar with the date of Monday December 30
Calendar with the date of Monday December 30

Timeline: EUDR applies to in-scope products placed on the EU market or exported overseas from the EU starting from December 30, 2025. There is a longer period of transition for micro and small enterprises until June 30, 2026.

*EU countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

What you need to do

You must consider the impact of the EUDR on your supply chain and prepare for the new obligations. It is the responsibility of your importer (or exporter) in the EU to ensure that the items entering or leaving the EU market meet the regulation requirements. If such products do not comply with the EUDR, they cannot be placed on the EU market or exported from the EU. 

Your importer/exporter in the EU must share the DDS reference number with FedEx prior to customs clearance in the EU. Your shipment cannot be processed through EU customs unless they comply with the new regulation. 

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