The EU Deforestation Regulation takes effect 30 December 2026 for large operators. If you export cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, wood or cattle from Africa, here's exactly what changed, what you must do, and how to be ready before the deadline.
<p class="lead"><strong>The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) takes effect 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators, and 30 June 2027 for small businesses.</strong> If your business exports cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, wood, cattle, or any product derived from them into the European Union, you must prove — with GPS plot-level geolocation — that nothing on the pallet was produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020. This guide explains exactly what changed in the December 2025 simplification amendment, what African exporters must do now, and how to be ready before the deadline without losing access to your EU buyers.</p> <h2>The deadlines you can't miss</h2> <table> <thead><tr><th>Operator size</th><th>EUDR compliance deadline</th><th>What you must submit</th></tr></thead> <tbody> <tr><td>Large & medium operators / traders</td><td><strong>30 December 2026</strong></td><td>Full Due Diligence Statement (DDS) per shipment via EU TRACES</td></tr> <tr><td>Micro & small enterprises (SMEs)</td><td><strong>30 June 2027</strong></td><td>Simplified DDS (one-time, in some cases)</td></tr> <tr><td>Primary producers in low-risk countries</td><td>30