EUDR Glossary of Terms
This EUDR glossary of terms is a concise A to Z reference to key terms in EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance, due diligence and supply chain sustainability.
D
- Due Diligence
- The process companies must follow under EUDR to assess and mitigate the risk that products they place on the EU market are linked to deforestation or forest degradation. Includes information gathering, risk assessment, and risk mitigation.
- Due Diligence Statement (DDS)
- A formal declaration submitted to EU authorities confirming that a company has conducted due diligence and that its products comply with EUDR requirements. Required before placing regulated commodities on the EU market.
- Deforestation
- Under EUDR, the conversion of forest to agricultural use, whether human-induced or not, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2023/1115.
- Deforestation-Free
- A product is considered deforestation-free if the relevant commodity was produced on land that has not been subject to deforestation after 31 December 2020.
E
- EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities associated with deforestation and forest degradation. Applies to cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, rubber and derived products.
- ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)
- A framework used to assess a company’s performance on environmental, social, and governance criteria. EUDR is a key component of environmental compliance within ESG reporting.
F
- Forest Degradation
- Structural changes to forest cover that negatively affect the forest’s capacity to provide ecosystem services or host biodiversity. Covered alongside deforestation under EUDR.
G
- Geolocation Data
- Under EUDR, operators must collect GPS coordinates (polygons or points) of the land plots where regulated commodities were produced. This data must be submitted as part of the due diligence statement.
O
- Operator
- Under EUDR, any natural or legal person who places relevant products on the EU market or exports them. Operators bear primary responsibility for due diligence compliance.
R
- Regulated Commodities
- The seven commodity groups covered by EUDR: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, wood, and rubber, plus derived products such as leather, chocolate, furniture, and tyres.
- Risk Assessment
- The second step in the EUDR due diligence process, in which operators evaluate the risk that a product is associated with deforestation or illegality based on gathered information and supply chain data.
S
- Supplier
- An entity in the supply chain that provides regulated commodities or products to an operator or trader. Operators must collect key information about their suppliers as part of EUDR due diligence.
T
- Trader
- Under EUDR, any person in the supply chain (other than the operator) who makes relevant products available on the market. Traders have lighter due diligence obligations but must maintain traceability records.
Going further
This EUDR glossary of terms is updated as the regulation evolves. For the full picture, read our EUDR requirements guide, check your duties with the free EUDR obligations checker, or see how EUDR Passport files your due diligence statements.