Update on UK's approach to deforestation
Update from DEFRA on the UK’s deforestation due diligence approach for Great Britain and the application of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) in Northern Ireland.
I am writing to provide an update on the Government’s plans to strengthen our approach to tackling deforestation in UK supply chains.
Today, we have confirmed that we will consult on our aim to introduce a strengthened approach, in Great Britain, including under the Environment Act 2021, and to strengthen the UK Timber Regulation (UKTR). We have also confirmed that the EU Regulation on Deforestation Free Products (EUDR) will apply in Northern Ireland as part of arrangements which ensure Northern Ireland’s unique access to the EU Single Market is maintained.
Healthy forests are essential to climate stability, sustainable economic growth and the livelihoods of communities at home and abroad, allowing us to secure supply chains, food and water resources, and long-term prosperity. This announcement will help the UK deliver on the commitment we made with 144 other countries at COP26 in Glasgow, to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
UK companies have been global leaders in taking strong voluntary action to address deforestation in their supply chains, but we also understand that voluntary measures alone cannot deliver the consistency and certainty needed to tackle this global challenge.
We therefore intend to consult on the introduction of regulations requiring GB businesses with an annual turnover of over £1 million per year, that use forest risk commodities and wood products in their commercial activity, to carry out due diligence to ensure these are produced in compliance with relevant local laws.
UK businesses operating within the EU or placing relevant products on the EU or Northern Ireland markets will have to comply with the EUDR. Large and medium operators will need to follow these new rules from 30 December 2026. Micro and small operators will need to follow EUDR rules from 30 December 2026 for wood products currently regulated under the EU Timber Regulation and from 30 June 2027 for all other relevant products.
Our aim is to introduce an approach in Great Britain which operates consistently alongside the EUDR and protects the UK internal market, ensuring the unique dual access for Northern Ireland businesses is maintained. We aim to require businesses who use relevant products to ensure they establish a due diligence system, report on their activity and hold proof of this compliance by collecting geolocation data about where they were produced. These requirements for placing relevant goods on the market in Great Britain, and the products in scope, are intended to be broadly the same as those for placing the goods on the market in Northern Ireland, or exporting to the EU.
In due course, we intend to move towards a deforestation-free standard in Great Britain.
As mentioned, the government will seek views from businesses, civil society and international partners on the proposed policy. We encourage all interested parties to engage with Defra by responding to the upcoming consultation.
The Government will produce detailed guidance on how businesses can comply with EUDR in Northern Ireland shortly. Guidance published by the European Commission on complying with the EUDR can be found at Deforestation Regulation implementation - Green Forum - European Commission.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
International Deforestation Regulations Team,
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
