Does the EUDR apply to US companies?
Yes. The EUDR applies to any company — regardless of where it is headquartered — that places regulated commodities or products on the EU market or exports them from the EU. If you sell products containing cattle, soy, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, wood, or their derivatives to European customers, the EUDR very likely applies to your business.
My EU customers are already handling EUDR compliance — does that affect us?
Partially, but not entirely. EU importers bear the primary compliance obligation and must submit a Due Diligence Statement — but to complete it, they need geolocation data and deforestation-free documentation from their upstream suppliers, including US companies. If you cannot provide that, you risk losing the business to a supplier who can.
Some US companies are also direct "operators" under the EUDR — for example, if you sell into the EU through a subsidiary, distributor, or direct relationship. In that case, the obligation rests with you.
There is also a competitive dimension: suppliers who arrive with ready documentation make their EU customers' compliance easier — and that is increasingly a differentiator in supplier selection.
The US is classified as "low-risk." Does that mean we're exempt?
No. Low-risk country classification means simplified due diligence applies — not exemption. Companies sourcing from low-risk countries face a lighter documentation burden than those sourcing from standard or high-risk countries, but they are still required to verify deforestation-free status, collect supporting evidence, and submit a Due Diligence Statement for regulated products placed on the EU market. The May 2026 updated guidance provides additional clarification on simplified due diligence for low-risk country sourcing — further detail Pronemus incorporates into every assessment.
What did the EU’s May 2026 simplification package change?
On May 4, 2026, the European Commission released certain measures to ease implementation ahead of the December 30, 2026 enforcement date. The measures include updated guidance and a revised FAQ (Version 5) clarifying downstream supply chain obligations; a draft Delegated Act proposing targeted scope changes (adding soluble coffee and certain palm oil derivatives; excluding leather and retreaded tires; and creating exemptions for samples, secondhand products, and waste); and updates to the EUDR Information System.
Although the simplification measures are anticipated to significantly reduce annual compliance costs, the Commission confirmed that the core legal text will not be amended and there will be no further deadline extension. The fundamental due diligence obligations — geolocation data, deforestation-free verification, and Due Diligence Statement submission — remain fully intact.
When is the EUDR compliance deadline?
The current enforcement dates, confirmed by the European Commission's May 2026 simplification package, are December 30, 2026 for large and medium operators, and June 30, 2027 for small and micro operators (with the exception of micro and small enterprises in the timber sector, which face the December 2026 date). The Commission explicitly ruled out any further postponement. Companies should treat December 30, 2026 as a firm deadline and use the remaining time to prepare — not pause.
How are large, medium, small, and micro operators defined?
The EUDR uses the EU's standard enterprise size definitions, based on meeting at least two criteria. Large: more than 250 employees, turnover above €50M, or balance sheet above €25M. Medium: below large thresholds but above small. Small: 50 or fewer employees, turnover or balance sheet at or below €15M. Micro: fewer than 10 employees, turnover or balance sheet below €2M. Most US mid-market companies selling into the EU will fall into the large or medium category and face the December 30, 2026 deadline.
What is a Due Diligence Statement (DDS)?
A Due Diligence Statement is a formal declaration submitted to the EU's EUDR information system confirming that a regulated product is deforestation-free and legally produced. Operators placing products on the EU market are required to submit a DDS before doing so. The DDS must be supported by documented evidence of supply chain due diligence, including geolocation data and risk assessment results.
What geolocation data does the EUDR require?
The EUDR requires operators to collect precise geolocation coordinates — GPS polygon or point data — for each plot of land where regulated commodities were produced. For cattle, this includes the plots where animals grazed. For crops, it includes the agricultural plots. For wood, it includes the harvest areas. This data must be accurate enough to identify the specific production location and support temporal deforestation analysis.
How does Pronemus verify deforestation risk using satellites?
Pronemus uses satellite remote sensing data — including publicly available sources such as Global Forest Watch, Hansen Global Forest Change, and high-resolution commercial imagery — combined with AI-assisted change detection analysis to evaluate whether deforestation has occurred at or near identified supply chain plot locations, and support temporal deforestation analysis. Our analysis covers the EUDR reference date of December 31, 2020, and extends to the present, consistent with the regulation's requirements.
How long does a Pronemus risk report take?
A standard Supply Chain Nature Risk Report typically takes 2–4 weeks from receipt of supply chain information and geolocation data. Timeline varies depending on the number of commodities, the geographic scope of the supply chain, and the completeness of the data provided. In certain cases, expedited reports may be provided at additional cost and depending on our availability. We will confirm a specific timeline at the outset of each engagement.
Do I need to share sensitive supplier information with Pronemus?
We require supply chain geolocation data and commodity sourcing information sufficient to conduct the analysis. However, we treat all client data as confidential and do not share it with third parties. Specific data handling terms are set out in our client agreement. We can discuss your specific confidentiality requirements before any engagement begins.
Is a Pronemus report sufficient to meet EUDR requirements on its own?
A Pronemus report provides the deforestation risk assessment and evidence documentation component of EUDR due diligence — a critical part of the compliance process. However, full EUDR compliance also requires legality verification, supplier data collection, risk mitigation (where risk is identified), and your formal DDS submission. We can advise on the full compliance process and work alongside your legal and compliance teams.
