What is the EU Regulation for a deforestation-free supply chain about?
Raw materials covered by the Regulation are cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood and products derived from them. Annex I to EU Regulation 2023/1115 (pages 38–41) lists the customs tariff numbers covered by the Regulation.
From December 30, 2024, these raw materials and products may only be placed on the market if they are deforestation-free, have been produced in accordance with the relevant laws of the country of production, and a corresponding due diligence statement has been provided.
The operators concerned will also be obliged to obtain, store, and provide, at the request of the authorities, the following information, documents, and data:
- Description, including trade name and type of product
- List of relevant raw materials and products contained or used in production
- Quantity of relevant products in kilograms or net volume
- Country of production and, where relevant, parts thereof
- Geolocation of all plots of land where the relevant raw materials have been produced or used
- Date and duration of production
- Name and address of all companies from which you have received the relevant products
- Conclusive and verifiable information that the relevant products are deforestation-free
In the case of distributors not based in the EU, application of the Regulation will pass to the first operator based in the EU. Swiss exporters are therefore not directly, but rather indirectly affected by the EU Regulation for a deforestation-free supply chain.
