A product is deforestation-free when its land of production was not subject to deforestation or forest degradation after the cut-off date of 31 December 2020. This is the core requirement that every relevant product must meet.
Only deforestation-free products that were also produced legally may be placed on the EU market or exported.
Why does the date matter?
The EUDR sets a fixed cut-off date: 31 December 2020. If the land of production was deforested or degraded after this date, the product is not compliant – regardless of who later sells it.
How do you prove it?
- Record the geolocation coordinates of every plot of production
- Compare the land status against the cut-off date
- Document the result in your due diligence statement
What counts as deforestation?
The regulation covers both deforestation (conversion of forest to other land use) and, for wood, forest degradation. The geolocation data lets the land be checked against satellite information for the relevant period.
In short: Deforestation-free is proven through geolocation data plus the cut-off date. Both come together in the due diligence statement.