82 compliance dates are now:
Policy- NI & GB
EU DEFORESTATION-FREE REGULATION IS NEARLY HERE
We wish to alert BMF timber businesses of policy and regulatory changes happening soon affecting the timber trade in the EU, Northern Ireland & Great Britain- namely the EUDR and the UKTR.
Europe In June 2023, the European Commission adopted a new regulation to prevent illegal logging, deforestation and habitat loss- called the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation 2023 / 1115- that replaces the existing EU Timber Regulation.
The EUDR applies to goods made from certain commodities that cannot be placed on the EU market( or exported out of the EU) unless prescribed conditions are met- notably that the goods have a due diligence statement with associated geo-location & harvesting evidence.
Brussels wants to stop the expansion of agriculture in forests linked to the production of( among others) meat, palm oil, coffee & rubber. For BMF members, this means timber and wood-based materials like paper & pulp. Inevitably, it means more due diligence; upholding environmental regulations; keeping traceability records; complying with local employment laws; and vigilance against the possibility of slavery or corruption.
The EUDR was originally supposed to come into force on 30 December 2024. But the European Union delayed its implementation twice via legislative amendments. The revised
82 compliance dates are now:
• large and medium businesses: 30 December 2026;
• micro- and small businesses: 30 June 2027;
• micro- and small businesses already covered by the EU Timber Regulation: 30 December 2026.
You must be able to prove your goods do not come from deforested land; have not contributed to forest degradation; or broken laws in the country of origin.
The European Commission’ s webpage that provides practical advice & guidance and set of frequently-asked questions is here: https:// green-forum. ec. europa. eu / nature-and-biodiversity / deforestation-regulation-implementation _ en
You can read the full list of products in Annex I of EU Regulation 2023 / 1115 here: https:// eur-lex. europa. eu / legal-content / EN / TXT /? uri = CELEX- % 3A02023R1115-20251226
and the EU final delegated act of the regulation here: https:// eur-lex. europa. eu / legal-content / EN / TX- T /? uri = PI _ COM % 3AC % 282026 % 294 920 & qid = 1784034053928
Northern Ireland In July 2026, the Department for
Environment, Food & Rural Affairs published new guidance on the application of the EUDR in Northern Ireland. You must make sure that your goods meet the EUDR if you market them in, move them to or export them from Northern Ireland.
Guidance on the trade to / from Northern Ireland is here: https:// www. gov. uk / guidance / moving-exporting-or-placing-deforestationfree-products-on-the-market-innorthern-ireland
Great Britain Although the EUDR does not apply in Great Britain- England, Scotland and Wales- Whitehall has announced its intention to introduce deforestation regulations in Great Britain.
DEFRA will soon consult on the proposed policy in Great Britain- aiming to ensure that aspects of the scope & information requirements are broadly the same as those of the EUDR. This is to reduce regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and support trade with the EU.
Further detail on the approach being taken by DEFRA can be found here: https:// www. gov. uk / government / publications / the-uks-approach-todeforestation-regulations