The EU deforestation regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EUDR), requires companies placing certain commodities on the EU market to prove they were not produced on land deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020, and that they were produced legally. It affects only the listed commodities and products made from them.
Most Indian spices, seed spices, psyllium, dehydrated onion and garlic are not covered. Some Indian exports are.
Which commodities are covered
Products made from them, such as soya meal, are also covered when listed in the regulation's annex by customs code. For India, coffee, rubber, soya meal and some wood products are the most relevant.
- Cattle.
- Cocoa.
- Coffee.
- Oil palm.
- Rubber.
- Soya.
- Wood.
What it asks of importers
- Collect information on the product, quantity, supplier and country of production.
- Get geolocation of the plots of land where the commodity was grown.
- Assess and reduce the risk of non-compliance.
- Submit a due diligence statement before placing goods on the market or exporting.
- Keep records for the period the regulation sets.
Timing
The regulation entered into force in 2023, but its application date has been postponed more than once, with different dates for large and smaller operators. Countries are also given a risk level that affects how much checking is needed. Check the current dates, guidance and country benchmarks on the European Commission's pages before you plan.
What it means for spice and seed buyers
If you buy only spices, seeds, psyllium or dehydrated vegetables, EUDR does not apply to those products. Do confirm the customs code for each product against the annex, especially for blends or products containing soya or palm oil.
Your customers may still ask about deforestation and land use in broader sustainability questionnaires. Those checks are covered in what sustainability checks buyers ask for. Farm-level geolocation also depends on traceability, explained in how to trace a lot back to the farm.
Watch for products that contain covered commodities without being obvious. A spice blend may contain soya flour or a palm-based carrier. A snack or processed food may be fried in palm oil. Wooden pallets and some paper packaging can also fall within scope in certain cases, although packaging used only to support or protect goods is treated differently. Check the annex by customs code and read the Commission's current guidance on packaging.
If any covered product is in your range, ask the Indian supplier early whether they can collect plot data. Many smallholder supply chains cannot provide it today without a dedicated programme, and building one takes time.
How we help
For covered products, we check whether the supplier can collect plot geolocation and keep lots separate. For spices and seeds, we help you answer customer questionnaires with facts from the supply chain. Ask for a free sourcing review.