The EU Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) requires that certain agricultural products placed on the EU market or exported from there were produced on land that was not subject to deforestation and (in the case of timber) forest degradation-free (after the cut-off date of 31 December 2020) and legally according to relevant national legislation.

On 15 November, the Delegation of the European Union to Viet Nam (EUD to Viet Nam) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) organised another technical exchange on deforestation free value chains and the European Union's Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) to further review the recently published guidance from the EU, questions from stakeholders in Viet Nam and discuss options for tools advancing traceability in supply chains in Viet Nam.

Following a technical exchange held in July 2024, this session focuses on aspects of traceability and provides Vietnamese stakeholders an opportunity to directly address questions and concerns about the EUDR and its implications for their industries. The exchange serves as a platform to foster dialogue between the EU and Viet Nam on how to align efforts in ensuring sustainable, legally produced, and deforestation-free products for the EU market.

The event brings together more than 200 participants, including technical staff from government agencies, representatives from the private sector, associations from the timber, rubber, and coffee industries, as well as non-state actors. The exchange is co-chaired by Mr. To Viet Chau, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department, MARD and Dr Rui Ludovino, First Counsellor of Climate Action, Environment, Employment and Social Policies at the EUD to Viet Nam.

Before the event, Mr. To Viet Chau, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department, MARD, emphasised: “Although the European Commission is considering postponing the date in which EUDR is applied, Viet Nam will not delay its preparation and adaptation progress to the regulation’s requirements. This demonstrates our strong commitment to building sustainable, deforestation-free supply chains and meeting international standards. This proactive approach will help Viet Nam be ready to comply with EUDR requirements, further strengthening its position as a responsible, transparent, and sustainable agricultural supplier in the international market.”

Dr. Rui Ludovino shared: “To ensure effective implementation, the EU Deforestation Regulation, initially set to apply from December 2024, may now be postponed to December 2025 for large operators and June 2026 for SME operators. With the proposed extra 12 months of preparation,

the EU wants to make sure that all businesses, third countries and other stakeholders have more time to prepare and get ready for EUDR implementation.”

Given the EUDR's novel character, the swift calendar, and the variety of international stakeholders involved, the European Commission considers that a 12-month additional time to phase in the system is a balanced solution to support operators around the world in securing a smooth implementation from the start. The extension proposal in no way puts into question the objectives or the substance of the law, as agreed by the EU co-legislators.

The EU remains committed to supporting Viet Nam’s stakeholders by providing the necessary tools and insights to navigate the EUDR framework, which is essential for global efforts to minimize deforestation and forest degradation. The EU will use this extra time to further support third countries and other partners and continue implementing ongoing dialogue and cooperation projects, which focus on legality, traceability and inclusivity of smallholders, among others.

Background

The EUD to Viet Nam (through the "EUDR Engagement" project) works closely with Vietnamese partners to facilitate communication and dialogue surrounding the EUDR. The Vietnamese Government, at both central and local levels, is actively preparing and supporting its stakeholders to enhance deforestation-free and legal supply chains in line with the EU and Vietnam’s joint international objectives on climate and biodiversity.

Since the launch of the “EUDR Engagement”, the EUD to Viet Nam and MARD have organized several meetings and information exchanges related to the implementation of EUDR requirements in Viet Nam. An initial technical exchange co-chaired by the EUD to Viet Nam and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in March 2024, was followed by further outreach events in June 2024 and now in November.

The EU's Commitment to deforestation-free supply chains

Through the EUDR, the EU aims to minimize its contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation, thereby mitigating climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting biodiversity. The EUDR aligns with the EU's commitment to the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). It is important to reiterate that the EUDR focuses on companies, not countries or third-country producers. It shifts the focus from voluntary action to a regulatory framework by mandating due diligence for companies placing relevant products on the EU market.

Further information on the EUDR can be found at: Key documents on the EU's Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR)Key documents on the EU's Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR)

Guidelines on the EU's Deforestation Regulation and its global implementation for deforestation-free supply chains can be found at: Deforestation Regulation implementation - European Commission

The full version of EUDR can be found at: PE-82-2022-INIT_en.pdf (europa.eu)