EU Deforestation Regulation: Is the European forest products industry content? NO!

Introduction

The new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is to take full effect in December 2024, is to guarantee that the products the European Union (EU) citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide. While the intention is noble, and widely supported, including by the US and European forest products sectors, its proposed implementation is not widely supported.

Following a Dovetail Partners article aimed at US wood products exporters, “Do you export to Europe? Urgent attention to the EUDR needed”, in our April 2024 newsletter, this article presents the perspective of the European forest products industries. Like their US counterparts, the Europeans are committed to sustainable forest management and sustainable forest products markets. Deforestation and forest degradation have no part in sustainability. And like their US counterparts, the Europeans find implementation and adherence to the full extent of the EUDR nearly impossible as now written.