EUDR – the deadline is approaching, and companies that act now will have an advantage over those that wait

The EUDR has already seen several deadline extensions and numerous amendments. This has led some companies to adopt a wait-and-see approach: “It will change again, so we’ll wait.” Meanwhile, the deadline is now known and confirmed: large operators and traders will have to comply with the obligations under the EUDR from 30 December 2026, and micro and small enterprises from 30 June 2027. Companies that wait until the last minute risk not only fines – they risk losing contracts to competitors who were prepared earlier.

What the EUDR really requires of you – and why this isn’t a week-long project

The EUDR prohibits the placing on the EU market of products whose production has contributed to deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020. It applies to seven commodity groups: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, timber and rubber – and hundreds of derived products: chocolate, furniture, paper, tyres, leather and many others.

Under the new regulations, the obligation to submit a due diligence statement will rest solely with the entity that first places a product covered by the EUDR on the EU market. But this does not mean that the rest of the supply chain is exempt from obligations. Companies further down the chain must ensure product traceability and register with the TRACES system.

What exactly do you need to do? Check which of your products are covered by the regulation. Identify suppliers and verify the origin of raw materials. Establish a documentation system to demonstrate that raw materials do not originate from areas deforested after 31 December 2020. Register with the EU’s IT systems. Implement due diligence procedures and train staff.

This is not a week-long project. It is a project that requires supply chain analysis, negotiations with suppliers to obtain the required data, and the establishment of a documentation system. Companies that start now will be able to do so at their own pace. Companies that start in the final quarter of 2026 will be scrambling to meet the deadline in chaos.

Key information for Polish businesses – Poland as a low-risk country

This is important information to be aware of: under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093, Poland has been designated as a low-risk country. Entities sourcing goods from low-risk countries are subject to simplified due diligence obligations, which do not require a risk assessment or the implementation of risk mitigation measures.

For Polish companies, this represents a real simplification. If your raw materials come from Poland or other countries classified as low-risk, your obligations are significantly fewer than those of companies importing raw materials from Brazil, Indonesia or other countries at high risk of deforestation.

But beware: simplified procedures do not mean no procedures. You still need to demonstrate the origin of the raw material, register with the relevant systems and ensure traceability. A simplified regime means less work – not no work. And that is precisely why it is worth understanding exactly what obligations apply to you before assuming that “this does not apply to us.”

Companies that act now will win contracts that others will lose

The greatest and most frequently underestimated benefit of early preparation for the EUDR is not the avoidance of penalties. It is access to contracts that unprepared companies will not secure.

Failure to comply with EUDR regulations can have serious financial and reputational consequences for companies, including restricted access to public funding and a loss of trust among customers and business partners. This means that importers and distributors covered by the EUDR will prefer suppliers who can provide complete compliance documentation – as this simplifies their own obligations. A supplier with ready EUDR documentation is a more convenient partner for them than a supplier with whom they must go through additional verification.

Companies that prepare for the EUDR in advance will enter discussions with such clients with a ready-made argument. Companies that are unprepared will have to ask for time, which they are unlikely to be granted.

→ The EUDR is not just a bureaucratic box to tick. It is a game-changer in international trade – and companies that understand it early on will be in a different league to those that find out about it too late.