Credit: Jazmin Campbell
On Thursday 9 July 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity announced it is informing relevant stakeholders of the new obligations applicable at European level on deforestation and forest degradation (EUDR)
According to the ministry, the regulation introduces a strengthened framework to ensure that products placed on the European Union market, or exported from the European Union, do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation.
The ministry stated that deforestation and forest degradation are among the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide and contribute significantly to climate change. The increasing pressure exerted by certain supply chains on natural resources highlights the need to take action on production, processing and consumption methods. In this context, the European Union aims to strengthen the transparency and sustainability of its trade flows.
The EUDR forms part of this approach and establishes new requirements for economic operators, particularly regarding traceability, risk management and transparency. It aims to ensure that the relevant commodities and derived products marketed within the Union originate from supply chains that do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, thereby contributing to the protection of forests and the preservation of ecosystems worldwide.
A phased implementation of the new obligations
The regulation provides for a phased implementation to allow stakeholders to prepare:
• from 30 December 2026: application for large and medium-sized enterprises
• from 30 June 2027: application for micro and small enterprises
Stakeholders are invited to begin preparing now for these deadlines to ensure compliance within the required timeframes.
Strengthened requirements for supply chains
The obligations introduced by the regulation vary depending on the type of products concerned, the size of the enterprises and their role in the supply chain. They aim to strengthen transparency and control over the risks associated with deforestation.
They include, in particular:
• the collection of information on the products concerned;
• the traceability of supply chains;
• the geolocation of production plots;
• the assessment and mitigation of deforestation risks.
These obligations apply to several products and categories, including wood, rubber, cocoa, coffee, soya, palm oil and cattle.
National coordination ensured by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity
In Luxembourg, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity has been designated as the competent authority for the implementation of the regulation. It ensures national coordination in close cooperation with the relevant administrations and technical bodies. This approach aims to ensure a coherent and effective implementation of the framework, adapted to the specific characteristics of the various sectors concerned.
Support arrangements for relevant stakeholders
To support economic operators in implementing the regulation, the ministry announced that several support measures have been put in place.
A national portal brings together all information relating to the EUDR. It serves as an entry point enabling users to understand the obligations, identify the steps to be taken and access relevant resources.
In addition, two sector-specific contact points are available to answer stakeholders’ questions:
• the Administration of Technical Agricultural Services (ASTA) for the cattle, soya, palm oil, coffee and cocoa sectors;
• the Nature and Forest Administration (ANF) for the forestry sector.
Furthermore, training and information activities will be organised to support stakeholders in achieving compliance. These include a general webinar as well as sector-specific workshops organised by ASTA for the agricultural sector.
