EUDR Is Moving Forward: Deadline 30 December 2026. The final stretch

TL;DR

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is in force, and the application date for medium and large companies is 30 December 2026. In September 2026 the European Commission deployed a new release of the EUDR Information System, published a Delegated Act that changes the product scope, and updated the guidance and customs documentation operators need. Micro and small companies have until 30 June 2027. With less than three months to go, companies should confirm now whether their products are in scope and whether their systems and suppliers are ready.

What happened in September 2026

Between 4 and 25 September 2026, the European Commission published a series of updates that move the EUDR from legal text to operational reality. For those of you who have been wondering if the EUDR is going ahead: yes, it is. The final updates deliver:

1. A new release of the Information System

Release 8.2.1 is now live on both the ACCEPTANCE (test) and PRODUCTION servers of the EUDR Information System. Companies can test their submissions and integrations in the same environment they will use for real.

2. A Delegated Act that changes the product scope

A Delegated Act updating Annex I of the Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It entered into force on 18 September 2026.

Removed from scope:

• Cattle hides, skins and leather

• Re-treaded tires

• Soybeans for sowing

• Articles of vulcanized rubber

• Conveyor and transmission belts

• Aircraft and motor vehicle seats

Added to scope:

• Soluble coffee

• Certain palm oil derivatives

• Frozen cattle tongues

The new products are not subject to the Regulation until 30 December 2027, which gives businesses a year longer to prepare for them.

The Delegated Act also introduces targeted exemptions for:

• Waste

• Used and second-hand products

• Packing material

• Specific uses, including medicinal products

• Samples and products used for analysis, examination and testing

3. Updated user guidance and training

Following updates to TRACES, the EU's trade control and expert system, the User Guide for Economic Operators has been revised. New dates for Information System training are available. The guide also includes new information on re-import scenarios and the related conventional reference number.

4. Updated customs (TARIC) document codes

The EUDR TARIC document now lists the document codes to declare in the customs declaration for:

• Simplified declarations

• Export by downstream operators (exemption code)

• Re-import of products previously covered by a due diligence statement (DDS) or a simplified declaration

• Re-import or export of products placed on the market during the transitional period

• Used, second-hand and waste products

• Samples and products for analysis, examination or tests

• Packing materials and packing containers (under specific conditions)

• Products used in the manufacturing of medicinal products

Key dates

What this means for companies

The message from these updates is practical. The Commission is finalizing systems, guidance and customs codes. That is what a regulation does when it is about to apply, not when it is about to be dropped.

Three points deserve attention:

• Your scope may have changed.

  If you trade leather, vulcanized rubber articles or motor vehicle seats, you may now be out of scope. If you trade soluble coffee or palm oil derivatives, you are now in scope, but later than other products.

• Exemptions are narrow and conditional.

  Used, second-hand, waste, sample and packing material exemptions come with specific conditions and customs codes. Do not assume a product is exempt without checking.

• Customs and compliance teams must work together.

  Correct TARIC codes in the customs declaration are now part of EUDR compliance.

What companies should do

• Check whether your products are still in scope under the updated Annex I, and note which newly added products fall under the 2027 date.

• Confirm which date applies to your organization: 30 December 2026 or 30 June 2027.

• Test your due diligence statement submissions in the ACCEPTANCE environment of the EUDR Information System.

• Review your customs set-up with your brokers and logistics partners, including the TARIC document codes for exemptions, re-imports and exports.

• Map your supply chains to the plot of land of origin and identify gaps in supplier data.

• Engage suppliers early. Data collection takes time and if you have not yet started, you may not have enough time for the December 30 deadline.

• Assign clear internal owners across compliance, procurement, customs and IT.

• Get external help where needed.

How QIMA can help

QIMA supports companies preparing for the EUDR with supply chain risk assessment, traceability, data verification, training and DDS submission.

FAQ

1. Is the EUDR still going ahead? Yes. The Regulation is in force, the Information System is live in production, and the Commission has published scope, guidance and customs updates. The application date for medium and large companies is 30 December 2026.

2. When do micro and small companies need to comply? From 30 June 2027.

3. What changed in the product scope? Cattle hides, skins and leather, re-treaded tyres, soybeans for sowing, articles of vulcanized rubber, conveyor and transmission belts, and aircraft and motor vehicle seats are removed. Soluble coffee, certain palm oil derivatives and frozen cattle tongues are added.

4. When do the newly added products come into scope? On 30 December 2027.

5. When did the Delegated Act enter into force? On 18 September 2026.

6. Are used or second-hand products covered? The Delegated Act introduces targeted exemptions for used and second-hand products, as well as waste, packing material, samples and products for analysis or testing. Specific conditions apply, so check the Delegated Act and the TARIC document for each case.

7. Where can I test my submissions? On the ACCEPTANCE server of the EUDR Information System. Release 8.2.1 is deployed there and in production.

8. Where can I find guidance? The User Guide for Economic Operators has been updated, and new Information System training dates are available. Both are published by the European Commission.