Introduction.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR ), which will take effect in December 2025, has had a major impact on many industries, including food, fashion, timber, and automotive.
This new regulation will require products distributed in the EU market to prove that they were "produced without deforestation.
The target is not just agricultural products, but also processed and finished products made from such raw materials.
In other words, even if a product is made in Japan, it is subject to EUDR regulations if its raw materials come from countries at risk of deforestation, such as Brazil and Vietnam.
This article provides an overview of the EUDR, when it will come into effect, the categories covered, and the actual industry-specific impacts and how to respond to them in an easy-to-understand manner.
What is EUDR?
The EUDR (Regulation (EU) 2023/1115) is an EU law that aims to "prevent raw materials and products related to deforestation and forest degradation from entering the EU market". It was enacted in June 2023 as part of the EU Green Deal policy.
Main Points
Official name: Regulation (EU) 2023/1115
Objective: To prevent deforestation products from entering the EU market
Target: EU importers, sellers and exporters
Enforcement Schedule:
June 29, 2023: Effective
December 30, 2025: Applicable to large companies
June 2027: Application will be extended to small and medium-sized enterprises
Points of Focus by the EU
Identification of raw material production location (GPS coordinates)
Proof of "Deforestation-free" status
Adjustment of screening levels according to country-of-origin risk classification (high, medium, low risk)
In other words, EUDR is a new supply chain regulation that focuses on
"where the raw materials were produced," rather than nationality or place of manufacture.
* A large company in Europe is defined as a company that falls under two or more of the following On a consolidated basis (including subsidiaries)
Employees: More than 250
- Annual sales: over 40 million euros (approximately 6.8 billion yen)
- Total assets: Over 20 million euros (approximately 3.4 billion yen)
Applicable categories of EUDR
As of 2025, the EUDR covers the following seven categories.
These raw materials and products made from them must prove "no deforestation" upon import into the EU market.
| category | Main raw materials | Major risk countries | Examples of Target Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| cattle (Bos taurus) | Beef, leather | Brazil, Colombia | Meat, leather shoes, bags |
| cocoa | cacao bean | Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana | Chocolate, cocoa |
| coffee | Green beans, roasted beans | Vietnam, Brazil, Ethiopia | Coffee beverages, confectionery |
| palm oil | refined oil | Indonesia, Malaysia | Detergents, cosmetics, food oils |
| soya bean (soybean) | Beans, protein, oil | Brazil, Argentina | Soy milk, sauces, feed |
| rubber | natural rubber | Thailand, Laos, Cambodia | Tires, gloves, soles |
| wood | Logs, plywood, paper | Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia | Furniture, paper, building materials |
Categories to be added: corn, cotton, rice, sunflower oil/canola oil, pork/poultry, seafood ....etc
EUDR explained with concrete examples
Take, for example, the case of the food industry.
Coffee from Vietnam is imported to Japan via a trading company as a raw material, manufactured as a product in Japan, and exported to the EU as "Made in Japan.
In this case,
even if the country of manufacture is Japan, if the raw material is coffee beans from Vietnam (a high risk country), it is subject to EUDR on the EU side.
Importers are required to provide GPS information on the farms and production areas of the raw materials, and if they cannot prove "no deforestation," they will not be allowed to clear customs.
Specific examples (by industry)
| (the) industry | Examples of raw materials | Assumed risk | Impact in the EUDR |
|---|---|---|---|
| foodstuff | Coffee, cocoa, soybeans | Many high-risk country sources | Obligation to submit information on the place of origin of raw materials |
| fashion | Cowhide, rubber | Brazilian and Southeast Asian | Leather goods and shoes are eligible |
| Wood & Paper | Plywood, wrapping paper | Produced in Africa and South America | Trend toward mandatory FSC and other certifications |
| automobile | Rubber parts, interior materials | Produced in Thailand and Cambodia | Affects tire manufacturers, etc. |
Industries indirectly affected by the EUDR
The EUDR is a regulation that involves not only the manufacturing industry, but also trading companies, logistics, and retail.
| type of industry | Impact Details |
|---|---|
| Trading and trading company | EU importer requires proof of raw materials. Obligation to submit documents. |
| Logistics and export agency | EUDR certification document must be attached at customs clearance. |
| Retail & Brand | EUDR compliance will be the new standard when selecting suppliers. |
Swapsss Support for EUDR Compliance in Europe
We provide one-stop support for Japanese companies' EUDR compliance.
Risk assessment: Analyzes whether products and raw materials are subject to EUDR and visualizes risk countries and raw materials.
Documentation preparation: Assist in the preparation of raw material certifications (farm, GPS, certificates, etc.) required by EU importers.
Local support in Europe: Liaison with EU authorities, customs and importers and submission on their behalf as a French base.
Customs clearance and logistics support: One-stop support for import/export, warehousing, and distribution practices, including EUDR-compliant documentation.
Provides up-to-date information: Regular distribution of EU regulation revision information such as EUDR, PPWR, REACH, etc. in Japanese.
Swapsss provides comprehensive support not only for the EUDR, but also for multiple environmental regulations that are integral to the
EU market, including the PPWR (Packaging Waste Regulation) and REACH (Regulation on the Evaluation of Chemicals).
summary
The EUDR is a new environmental regulation that all companies exporting to the EU market cannot avoid.
In particular, the food, fashion, lumber, and automotive industries require "traceability" back to the source of raw materials.
Even if the country of manufacture is Japan, if the raw material originates from a deforestation risk country, it is subject to the
It is essential to make the supply chain transparent and maintain documentation from now on.
Swapsss will utilize the strength of its French base to provide total support for
EUDR compliance, customs clearance, and local negotiations.