EUDR Glossary

Every EUDR term, in plain English

The EU Deforestation Regulation comes with its own vocabulary: DDS, TRACES, operator, geolocation, CN code. Here is each term explained simply first, then with the precise legal phrasing, so you can read any EUDR document without a law degree. Every definition is grounded in the regulation itself.

Need the bigger picture first? Read what the EUDR is, or check whether you are in scope.

26 of 26 terms

  • A

    Annex I#

    The list at the back of the regulation that names every product in scope, by its customs code. If your product is in Annex I, the EUDR applies to it.

    The annex listing relevant products by CN/HS code for each of the seven commodities. Printed books were removed by the December 2024 amendment. A draft Delegated Act of 4 May 2026 proposes further changes (not yet law).

    See also: Relevant products, CN / HS code

  • C

    CN / HS code#

    The customs classification number for a product. The EUDR uses these codes to define exactly what is in scope, so checking your product's code against Annex I is how you confirm whether it is caught.

    Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes, based on the international Harmonised System (HS). Annex I lists each relevant product by its CN/HS code.

    See also: Annex I, Relevant products

  • Competent authority#

    The national body in each EU country that enforces the EUDR, runs the checks and can impose penalties.

    The Member-State authority (or authorities) designated to enforce the EUDR. Customs authorities coordinate at the border via the Information System. The Commission maintains a published list.

    See also: , Low / standard / high risk

  • Country benchmarking#

    The EU's system for sorting countries (or regions) into three risk levels, which decides how much due diligence and how many checks apply to goods from there.

    A three-tier classification of countries or sub-national regions as low, standard or high risk (Art. 29). Until classified, a country defaults to standard risk. The first list was set by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1093 of 22 May 2025; a first review is scheduled for 2026.

    See also: Low / standard / high risk, Risk assessment

  • Cut-off date#

    The line in the sand: 31 December 2020. Goods linked to land that was deforested after this date cannot be sold on the EU market. Anything cleared before it is not caught by the deforestation test.

    The reference date in Art. 2(13). A commodity is deforestation-free only if produced on land not subject to deforestation after 31 December 2020.

    See also: Deforestation-free, Deforestation

  • D

    Deforestation#

    Turning forest into farmland, whether or not a person caused it.

    The conversion of forest to agricultural use, whether human-induced or not (Art. 2(3)).

    See also: Forest degradation, Deforestation-free, Cut-off date

  • Deforestation-free#

    One half of the test every in-scope product has to pass. A product is deforestation-free if it comes from land that was not deforested after 31 December 2020. For wood, it also has to be harvested without causing forest degradation after that date.

    Produced on land not subject to deforestation after 31 December 2020 and, for wood, harvested without inducing forest degradation after that date (Art. 2(13)).

    See also: Cut-off date, Deforestation, Legally produced, Forest degradation

  • Downstream operator#

    A newer category for companies that place or export products made from inputs that are already covered by someone else's Due Diligence Statement. They do not file a new statement; they just keep and pass on the supplier details and reference numbers.

    Category added by Reg. (EU) 2025/2650: an entity that places on the market or exports products made from relevant products already covered by an existing DDS or simplified declaration. Subject to the same reduced obligations as traders; does not submit a DDS.

    See also: Operator, Trader, Reference number, Due Diligence Statement (DDS)

  • Due Diligence Statement (DDS)#

    The short electronic declaration you file before placing an in-scope product on the EU market or exporting it. In it you confirm you did your due diligence and found no, or only negligible, risk that the product is linked to deforestation or was produced illegally.

    An electronic statement (contents set out in Annex II) submitted via the EU Information System confirming that due diligence was exercised and that only negligible or no risk was found. On submission the system issues a reference number and a verification number.

    See also: TRACES / EU Information System, Reference number, Verification number, Risk assessment, Operator

  • E

    EUDR#

    The EU Deforestation Regulation. A law that stops products linked to recent deforestation from being sold in, or exported from, the EU. It covers seven commodities and many products made from them.

    Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation. It replaced the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).

    See also: EUTR, Relevant products, Deforestation-free, Cut-off date

  • EUTR#

    The EU Timber Regulation, the older law the EUDR replaced. It only covered timber and only banned illegally harvested wood. The EUDR is broader: seven commodities, plus the new deforestation-free test on top of the legality test.

    The EU Timber Regulation, Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, repealed and replaced by the EUDR.

    See also: EUDR, Legally produced, Deforestation-free

  • F

    Forest degradation#

    Damaging a natural forest by changing what it is, for example replacing a primary or naturally regrowing forest with a plantation.

    Structural changes to forest cover taking the form of the conversion of primary forests or naturally regenerating forests into plantation forests or other planted forests (Art. 2(7)).

    See also: Deforestation, Deforestation-free

  • G

    Geolocation#

    The GPS coordinates of the exact plots of land where a commodity was produced. You collect these as part of due diligence so a plot can be checked against deforestation data.

    Latitude and longitude to at least six decimal digits (Art. 2(28)). Points are allowed for small plots, but a polygon is required for plots larger than 4 hectares.

    See also: Plot of land, Polygon vs point, Risk assessment

  • L

    Legally produced#

    The other half of the test. The product must have been made in line with the laws of the country it came from, covering things like land rights, environmental rules, labour and human rights, and tax and customs rules.

    Produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production (Art. 3). Covers land-use rights, environmental and forest rules, third parties' rights, labour and human rights, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and tax, anti-corruption, trade and customs rules.

    See also: Deforestation-free, Due Diligence Statement (DDS)

  • Low / standard / high risk#

    The three country categories. Low-risk countries get simplified due diligence and the lightest checks. Standard-risk (the default) and high-risk countries get full due diligence, with high-risk facing extra scrutiny. Only four countries are currently high-risk: Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea and Russia.

    Low risk allows simplified due diligence (Art. 13). Standard and high risk require full due diligence; high risk adds enhanced scrutiny. Minimum authority checks: 9% of operators for high-risk, 3% for standard, 1% for low (Art. 16).

    See also: Country benchmarking, Risk assessment, Risk mitigation, Competent authority

  • O

    Operator#

    The company that first places an in-scope product on the EU market, or exports it out of the EU. Operators carry the heaviest obligations: they do the full due diligence and file the Due Diligence Statement.

    Any natural or legal person who, in the course of a commercial activity, places relevant products on the market or exports them, excluding downstream operators (Art. 2(15), as amended).

    See also: Trader, Downstream operator, Due Diligence Statement (DDS), Risk assessment

  • P

    Plot of land#

    A piece of land within a single property that is uniform enough to be assessed as one unit when you check its deforestation risk.

    Land within a single real-estate property with sufficiently homogeneous conditions to allow an aggregate evaluation of the risk of deforestation and forest degradation (Art. 2(27)).

    See also: Geolocation, Polygon vs point

  • Polygon vs point#

    Two ways to record where a commodity came from. A point is a single GPS coordinate, fine for small plots. A polygon traces the outline of the whole plot and is required once a plot is larger than 4 hectares.

    Geolocation may be given as point coordinates for plots up to 4 hectares; polygons (a set of coordinates outlining the plot) are required for plots larger than 4 hectares (Art. 2(28)).

    See also: Geolocation, Plot of land

  • R

    Reference number#

    The unique ID the system gives you when you file a Due Diligence Statement. You pass it down the supply chain so the next company can show their goods are already covered.

    A unique identifier issued by the Information System on DDS submission, which operators must pass down the supply chain to downstream operators and traders (Art. 4(7)).

    See also: Verification number, Due Diligence Statement (DDS), TRACES / EU Information System, Downstream operator

  • Relevant products#

    The actual products the EUDR covers: not just the raw commodities but the goods that contain them, were fed with them, or were made using them. The full list is in Annex I.

    Products listed in Annex I that contain, were fed with, or were made using the relevant commodities (Art. 2(2) and Annex I).

    See also: Annex I, CN / HS code

  • Risk assessment#

    Step two of due diligence. Once you have the information, you weigh up how likely it is the product is linked to deforestation or was produced illegally, using factors like the country's risk level and how complex the supply chain is.

    The Article 10 step: assessing the risk of non-compliance against criteria including country/region risk classification, presence of forests and indigenous peoples, supply-chain complexity, risk of mixing, prevalence of deforestation, corruption and substantiated third-party concerns.

    See also: Risk mitigation, Geolocation, Low / standard / high risk, Due Diligence Statement (DDS)

  • Risk mitigation#

    Step three of due diligence. If the risk is more than negligible, you have to do something about it, such as getting more information, commissioning audits or helping suppliers improve, until the risk is negligible before the product goes on sale.

    The Article 11 step: taking measures (additional information, independent surveys or audits, supplier capacity-building) until the risk of non-compliance is negligible before placing the product.

    See also: Risk assessment, Due Diligence Statement (DDS)

  • S

    SME / micro enterprise#

    Smaller companies. They get lighter obligations and a later start date (30 June 2027 instead of 30 December 2026), as long as they were already a micro or small business by 31 December 2024.

    Micro and small undertakings defined by reference to the thresholds in EU Directive 2013/34/EU. The 30 June 2027 application date applies to those established as micro or small by 31 December 2024.

    See also: Operator, Trader

  • T

    TRACES / EU Information System#

    The EU's official online portal where you file your Due Diligence Statement and receive your reference and verification numbers. It is built on the EU's existing TRACES platform.

    The information system established under Article 33, built on EU TRACES / TRACES NT. It launched on 4 December 2024. Access was limited from 16 February 2026 for rework to align with Reg. (EU) 2025/2650, with full features expected back around mid-2026.

    See also: Due Diligence Statement (DDS), Reference number, Verification number

  • Trader#

    A company further down the supply chain that makes an in-scope product available on the market but is not the operator. Traders mostly collect and pass on reference numbers rather than filing fresh Due Diligence Statements.

    Any person in the supply chain, other than the operator or downstream operator, who makes relevant products available on the market (Art. 2(17)).

    See also: Operator, Downstream operator, Reference number

  • V

    Verification number#

    A companion ID issued with the reference number. Used together, the two let someone look up and confirm a Due Diligence Statement in the system.

    An identifier issued alongside the reference number, used with it to look up or verify a DDS in the Information System.

    See also: Reference number, Due Diligence Statement (DDS), TRACES / EU Information System

This is guidance, not legal advice. Confirm with the official sources we link or a qualified adviser. Definitions reference Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (consolidated 26 December 2025).

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