Expert knowledge

Many SME manufacturers are unsure of their responsibilities under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). In short, if you're an SME producer placing products on the EU market for the first time, you don’t need to file a Due Diligence Statement in the EU Portal. However, you must provide Reference Numbers upon request. For raw materials already in the EU, your supplier will provide these Reference Numbers, which you must archive. If you're importing raw materials from outside the EU, you are responsible for conducting full due diligence and generating new Reference Numbers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the schedule of the next phase of Lacey Act declaration implementation. Phase VII will include a wide variety of materials and plant products, such as furniture, cork, and some essential oils that have not yet required a declaration. APHIS launched an outreach campaign in October 2022 to provide information about the upcoming declaration implementation phase.