On the 22nd of May 2025, the European Commission published its long-awaited EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) country benchmarking system. It classified countries (or specific regions) as low, standard, or high-risk based on their deforestation profile and governance, with an indication that the European Commission is preparing for full implementation by 1st January 2026.
Whilst the majority of countries are classified as low risk*, and only Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, and North Korea considered high risk, standard risk countries are the ones to watch out for. This includes: Angola, Argentina, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Israel, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauretania, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Source: Preferred by Nature - as of 22nd May 2025. Note: A reevaluation is expected in October 2025*.
This classification will directly impact how businesses interact with Competent Authorities (CAs), particularly around the volume and intensity of due diligence checks. Here's what you need to know.
What it Actually Means in Practice
The benchmarking system introduces a level of predictability into compliance planning. While it doesn’t alter the requirement for all operators to conduct due diligence, it helps businesses anticipate their likelihood of being audited, and better manage risk and resources.
For example, if the country of origin is designated low-risk, operators still need to ensure compliance but “will be subject to simplified due diligence obligations. According to Art. 13 of the Regulation, they will still need to collect information in line with Art. 9 and assess the complexity of the supply chain and the risk of circumvention and the risk of mixing the product with products of unknown origin or origin of standard or high risk countries, but they will not be required to assess and mitigate risks (Art. 10 and 11 EUDR) unless the operator obtains or is made aware of any relevant information, including substantiated concerns submitted under Art. 31 , that would point to a risk that the relevant products do not comply with this Regulation (Art. 13(2) EUDR).” (5.1)
However it is important to note that just because you are sourcing from a low-risk country “there is no exception for the traceability requirement via geolocation. The operators also have to assess the complexity of the relevant supply chain and the risk of circumvention of the Regulation and the risk of mixing with products of unknown origin or origin in high-risk or standard-risk countries or parts thereof (Art. 13 of the Regulation). If the operator obtains or is made aware of any relevant information that would point to a risk that the relevant products do not comply with the Regulation or that the Regulation is circumvented, the operator must fulfil all the obligations under Art. 10 and 11 of the Regulation and must immediately communicate any relevant information to the competent authority.” (1.28)
Conversely, sourcing from high or standard-risk countries will not only require stronger documentation and risk mitigation measures, but will also increase the chance of facing an inspection or audit. As stated in the April 2025 FAQs “operators sourcing from standard and high-risk countries or parts of countries are subject to the same standard due diligence obligations. The only difference is that shipments from high-risk countries will be subject to enhanced scrutiny from competent authorities (9% of operators sourcing from high-risk areas). In that sense, drastic changes of supply chains are not warranted or expected. Furthermore, high risk classification will entail a specific dialogue with the Commission to address jointly the root causes of deforestation and forest degradation, and with the objective to reduce their level of risk.” (6.9)
Note: Regardless of the country's benchmark, all EU operators will need to submit a due diligence statement to the EU’s information system (Traces NT). Learn more about Traces here.
Risk Levels and the Volume of Checks
[Article 16] Authorities will conduct checks based on the risk classification of products - checking 9% of operators making available/placing on the market or exporting products from high risk countries/regions, 3% of volumes from standard risk countries, 1% from low risk countries.
This means that operators sourcing from high-risk areas will face significantly more scrutiny - including potential document requests, geolocation data verification at point of harvest, and supply chain traceability audits.
How Interu Helps Streamline Compliance
From past enforcement of the EU and UK Timber Regulations, we know how disruptive and stressful these checks can be for both businesses and Competent Authorities. Investigations are often manual, time-consuming, and fragmented, involving emails, PDFs, spreadsheets, and phone calls to gather evidence across multiple platforms.
Interu was designed with input from enforcement authorities to address exactly this challenge. By structuring and consolidating traceability data in a digital, shareable format, Interu makes it easier to:
- Provide credible, accessible evidence on demand
- Facilitate faster responses to requests
- Save both operators and Competent Authorities from paperwork overload
Also due to our integration with Traces NT, the EU’s system for EUDR data submissions, businesses can directly submit their due diligence statements (DDS), manage geolocation data, and retrieve DDS reference numbers - all within one system.
Preparing for Your Countries Risk-Level
This country-benchmarking is a major signal for supply chain planning. Now is the time to:
- Review your sourcing regions
- Reassess your due diligence documentation
- Get your traceability systems in place
*That being said, the European Commission has stated “The benchmarking process will be dynamic, with a first review scheduled for 2026. This review is intended to take account of the updated FAO FRA data, expected to be published in October 2025.” This means any changes could give organisations just 3 months to prepare - particularly for those sourcing from countries currently classed as low risk which are increased to standard or high.
With the right tools and preparation, navigating EUDR risk classifications can be a proactive step - not a compliance burden.
Need help preparing for compliance? Request a demo or talk to our team about what your obligations are under the EUDR.
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* Low risk countries include: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Island, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen.
