EUDR: what it means for West African exporters
Plot maps, a deforestation cut-off and a statement your buyer files. Here is the file to build now.
30.12.2026 LARGE AND MEDIUM · 30.06.2027 MICRO AND SMALL
Application dates set by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650.- 01Plot locationsGPS point or polygon for every plot
- 02Cut-off proofNo deforestation after 31.12.2020
- 03LegalityProduced under local law
- 04TraceabilityPlots linked to each lot shipped
From 30 December 2026, covered goods placed on the EU market must be deforestation-free, produced legally and covered by a due diligence statement. Your buyer files the statement. You supply most of what goes in it.1
Who it applies to
The rule covers cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, and many products made from them. Large and medium operators must comply first, from 30 December 2026. Micro and small operators follow on 30 June 2027.2
Shea, cashew and sesame are not on that list, so EUDR does not apply to them directly. EU buyers may still ask for traceability and plot data, so a file built for a covered good is useful for them too.
Plot geolocation
Every plot that produced the goods in a shipment must be located. Plots under four hectares need a single GPS point. Larger plots need a polygon of the boundary.
Cocoa, rubber, timber, palm oil, coffee, soya- GPS point or polygon for every supplying plot
- Evidence of no deforestation after 31.12.2020
- Proof the goods were produced under local law
- Supplier list linking plots to each lot
What your buyer will ask for
Expect your buyer to ask for the plot file, the legality evidence and a reference that ties both to the shipment. A Passmark export pack carries all three, stamped.
Frequently asked questions
Who files the due diligence statement?
Your buyer, the EU operator that places the goods on the market. You supply the plot data, legality evidence and shipment reference that go into it.
What does a plot need to show?
A GPS point for plots under four hectares, or a polygon of the boundary for larger plots, plus evidence of no deforestation after 31.12.2020.
Does EUDR cover shea, cashew or sesame?
No. They are outside the regulation, although EU buyers may still ask for traceability evidence.
