On May 22, 2025, the European Commission officially published the risk classification for trade partners under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in the EU Official Journal. The assessment is based on deforestation and forest degradation rates, agricultural land expansion for relevant commodities, and production trends for goods covered by the regulation.
High-Risk Countries
Table of Contents
Four countries have been classified as high-risk: Belarus, North Korea, Myanmar, and Russia.
According to the Commission, these nations were assigned this category because due diligence cannot be effectively conducted across their supply chains. All four countries are currently subject to sanctions from either the UN Security Council or the EU Council.
Low- and Standard-Risk Classifications
Approximately 140 countries and territories were categorized as low-risk, while those not listed in either the high- or low-risk annex are considered standard-risk countries.
In the ASEAN region, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, and Brunei were designated as low-risk, while Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia fall under the standard-risk group.
In South America, major Mercosur members — Argentina and Brazil — were also classified as standard-risk.
EUDR Scope and Impact
This classification reflects the deforestation risk associated with the production and trade of commodities regulated under EUDR, including cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy, and wood.
Operators sourcing from low-risk countries will have simplified due diligence requirements. While they still need to provide data on deforestation impacts related to their operations, they are not required to conduct risk assessments or implement risk mitigation measures.
Compliance and Enforcement
National authorities in EU member states will perform compliance checks according to the risk classification of the country of origin once the regulation takes effect.
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9% of import volumes from high-risk countries will be inspected.
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3% from standard-risk countries.
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1% from low-risk countries.
The EUDR will come into force on December 30, 2025 for large companies, and on June 30, 2026 for micro and small enterprises.