EU Regulation 2023/1115 on deforestation (EUDR — EU Deforestation Regulation) introduces stringent obligations for operators placing on the EU market or exporting from the EU certain products and raw materials associated with deforestation.
The products concerned are: palm oil, soy, coffee, cocoa, timber, rubber and cattle, as well as derived products (chocolate, wooden furniture, tyres, leather, paper, etc.). For each imported lot, the operator must demonstrate that the product does not originate from land deforested after 31 December 2020.
For Swiss companies exporting these products or their derivatives to the EU, it is essential to prepare for the traceability requirements. Although Switzerland is not directly subject to the EUDR, EU customers will require their Swiss suppliers to provide the information necessary for the due diligence declaration.
The main obligations for operators include: geolocation of production plots; documentation of the date of production or harvest; verification of compliance with the legislation of the country of production; and a due diligence declaration in the EU TRACES system.