In May 2025, the European Commission published the first official EUDR country benchmarking list, categorizing countries into three risk levels: low, standard, and high. This classification is a pivotal component of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which aims to ensure that products consumed within the EU do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation globally.

The EUDR applies to key commodities such as soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, and related products including leather, chocolate, and furniture. Under this regulation, companies must provide verifiable information demonstrating that these commodities were not sourced from land deforested after 2020.

The benchmarking process is dynamic and will be reviewed periodically, with the first update scheduled for 2026. Until then, businesses must align their sourcing strategies and compliance measures according to the current classifications.

What Do These Risk Categories Mean for Our Operations?

Low Risk

• Annual checks: At least 1% of relevant operators will be audited by national authorities.
• Simplified due diligence: Operators must collect key information, including geolocation data, but are not required to conduct risk assessments or implement mitigation measures.

Standard Risk

• Annual checks: At least 3% of relevant operators will be audited.
• Full due diligence: Operators are required to perform comprehensive due diligence, including data collection, risk assessment, and implementation of mitigation strategies.

High Risk

• Annual checks: At least 9% of relevant operators will be audited.
• Full due diligence: Operators must conduct thorough due diligence procedures, encompassing detailed data collection, rigorous risk assessments, and effective mitigation measures.

Current High-Risk Countries

As per the latest classification, the countries identified as high risk are:

• Belarus
• Myanmar
• North Korea
• Russia

Imports from these countries will be subject to the most stringent compliance checks under the EUDR.

Implications for Our Supply Chain

It’s important to note that even when sourcing from low-risk countries, the requirement for accurate and complete geolocation data remains. This necessitates end-to-end traceability across our supply chain, ensuring that all products are verifiably deforestation-free.

Natural & Healthy Food Europe Bv (NHSuperfoods | NHCacao) is proactively enhancing our traceability systems and working closely with suppliers to meet these requirements. We are committed to aligning our operations with the EUDR to promote sustainable and responsible sourcing practices.

Should you have any questions regarding how the EUDR impacts your role or our sourcing practices, please feel free to reach out.