Updated November 26, 2025:

EU postpones the EUDR
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is again becoming clearer. After a lot of discussion, the European Parliament has officially approved a big delay and easier compliance steps. This is good news for everyone shipping EUDR goods across the EU.

This decision shows that the EU is trying to be practical. They want to avoid problems for businesses while still keeping the main goal: to stop products linked to deforestation from entering the market.

The Short Summary
EUDR is delayed by one year (new deadline Dec 2026 for large firms) and major simplifications are coming, meaning lowering the administrative burden for many shippers. You have more time to prepare again.

What’s New in the Latest EUDR Guidance
The biggest changes are the timeline shift and the simplifications depending on company size.

1. A New Timeline: You Have Extra Months
The EU agreed to push back the start dates because member states and industry systems were not ready.

• Large Operators and Traders → Old Date: December 30, 2025, New Date: December 30, 2026
• Micro and Small Companies (SMEs) → Old Date: December 30, 2026, New Date: June 30, 2027

Impact: You have an extra year or more to set up your tracking systems and collect the necessary data.

2. Easier Paperwork for Most Companies
The EU is simplifying the process by putting the main job of checking products on the first company that brings them into the EU.

• Job of the First Importer (Operator): Only the company that first places the product on the EU market (the initial importer) must request the Due Diligence Statement (DDS) form to the EU system.
• Relief for Others (Traders/Downstream): If you are a trader or anyone later in the chain, you no longer need to submit a full DDS for every shipment. You just need to get and pass on the DDS reference number from the first importer.
• Smaller Companies Get it Even Easier: Small and micro businesses will have even simpler rules, perhaps only needing a one-time, simple declaration instead of filling out repeated forms.

Impact: This dramatically cuts down on the paperwork burden for many businesses and will easy up the customs clearance process, as in a lot of times the required documentation is easier to get.

3. What Businesses Still Need to Do
Even though the rules are simpler and the deadline is pushed back, the main requirement—to prove your products are deforestation-free—must still happen. You need to be ready to:

• Gather product and supplier data (including exact geo-location coordinates).
• Make sure the data is complete and accurate.
• Store all supporting documents (like legal papers and risk checks).
• Show proof when asked, even years after the sale.
  The need for organized, digital data that can be traced remains key.

4. How Flexport Supports EUDR Compliance
Flexport’s platform is already built to manage elements that can help with EUDR compliance:

• Provide an overview of what shipments are subject to EUDR before import
• Store documentation required for EUDR reporting
  All of this is part of our standard service, no extra investment or software integrations required.

Need help navigating EUDR?
If your business is impacted and you’d like to learn more about how Flexport can support your compliance efforts, contact us at eudr@flexport.com.

Updated May 21, 2025:

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) continues to take shape. In its latest update, the European Commission has published revised FAQs and a new Guidance Document, both aimed at clarifying reporting expectations and easing compliance pressures for businesses.

But while some industry voices argue that these updates merely reinforce what was already implied, the bottom line remains unchanged: companies must submit Due Diligence Statements (DDS) and retain traceable, verifiable records to demonstrate compliance, product by product, transaction by transaction.

So, what’s new? And how can Flexport help you manage the complexity without overloading your operations?

What’s New in the Latest EUDR Guidance

Annual Reporting Instead of Shipment-Level DDS

Importers are now allowed to submit Due Diligence Statements (DDS) on an annual basis rather than per shipment. While this reduces some administrative overhead, the burden of data collection and record-keeping remains. Companies are still responsible for documenting product-level details and being able to trace them back if reviewed by authorities.

This reduces the administration burden by 30%? Maybe, but if importers are accountable for their declarations based upon their suppliers' information then surely the administration continues product by product, transaction by transaction, and the required storing of data and documents to ensure proof can be provided to support the annual DDS.

New Risk Classification by Country

The EU will classify countries or specific regions within them as low, standard, or high deforestation risk. This “benchmarking” approach is meant to help businesses make more informed sourcing decisions.

Even when sourcing from low-risk countries, companies still need to collect geolocation data and demonstrate legal and deforestation-free origin.

What Businesses Still Need to Do

Even with simplified reporting structures, companies must be prepared to:

• Gather product- and supplier-level data
• Ensure accuracy and completeness
• Store supporting documentation
• Provide proof on demand, potentially years after a transaction

The need for structured, traceable data workflows is unchanged.

How Flexport Supports EUDR Compliance

Flexport’s platform is already built to manage elements that can help with EUDR compliance:

• Provide an overview of what shipments are subject to EUDR before import
• Store documentation required for EUDR reporting

All of this is part of our standard service, no extra investment or software integrations required.

Need help navigating EUDR?

If your business is impacted and you’d like to learn more about how Flexport can support your compliance efforts, contact us at eudr@flexport.com.