How can one prove that a cup of coffee, a plank of wood or a bar of chocolate has not contributed to deforestation? This question will soon be relevant to many European companies. In a press release published on 9 July, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity set out the implementation in Luxembourg of the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which will impose new traceability obligations from 30 December 2026 for large and medium-sized enterprises, and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small enterprises.
Proving the origin of products
Adopted by the European Union in 2023, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 aims to ensure that products placed on the European market, or exported from it, “do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation”, the Ministry points out. The aim is to improve transparency in supply chains in order to limit the impact of European consumption on forests worldwide.
The new requirements cover a number of commodities and some of their derivatives, including timber, cocoa, coffee, soya, rubber, palm oil and cattle.
According to the Ministry, companies will, in particular, be required to collect information on the products concerned, ensure the traceability of their supply chain, provide the geographical location of production plots and carry out a deforestation risk assessment before placing any products on the market.
Two key dates to note
The regulation will be implemented in stages. As mentioned above, large and medium-sized enterprises will be required to comply with these obligations from 30 December 2026. Micro and small enterprises will be granted an extension until 30 June 2027.
The Ministry is urging businesses to start preparing now in order to “ensure they comply within the specified timeframes”.
A portal and points of contact
In Luxembourg, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the regulation at national level, in collaboration with the relevant authorities.
To support businesses, a national portal (available at environment.public.lu) brings together information relating to the EUDR. According to the press release, it serves as “a starting point enabling users to understand their obligations, identify the steps they need to take, and access relevant resources”.
Two sector-specific contact points complement this scheme. The Administration for Technical Agricultural Services (Asta) will answer queries from the beef, soya, palm oil, coffee and cocoa sectors. The Administration for Nature and Forests (ANF) will provide support to stakeholders in the forestry sector.
The Ministry has also announced an information programme comprising a webinar to present the regulations, as well as sector-specific workshops organised by Asta for professionals in the agricultural sector.
