UPM Raflatac
 

Imagine a land area the size of the European Union. More than that much forest has been lost globally due to deforestation during the past three decades. The area equates to around 10% of the world’s forests. Deforestation is also reportedly responsible for around 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

As a major development in its efforts to combat deforestation and forest degradation globally, the European Union is introducing EUDR, short for the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products. The regulation entered into force on 29 June 2023, and is currently in a transition period that ends on 30 December 2024.

 

Update: On 17 December 2024, the EU Parliament voted in favour of the 12 months delay of the application date of the regulation (see press release). Next steps are the endorsement by the EU Council and the publication in the Official Journal of the EU before the end of 2024.

Update: On 3 December 2024, the European Commission, the Council, and the Parliament reached an agreement on a targeted amendment to the EU Regulation on deforestation (see press release). According to the agreement, the application date of the regulation will be postponed by 12 months, meaning that it will now take effect on 30 December 2025. To complete the procedure, both the Parliament and the Council must ratify the results of the trilogues. The final EU Parliament plenary vote is expected in the session of 16 December. The vote in the Council is also expected in the next days or weeks. In our understanding, this should be enough to have the postponement published in the Official Journal of the EU before the 30 December, and to avoid the scenario of entry into force already by the end of this year. Please refer to official EU sources for updates.

In the meantime, UPM Raflatac will continue working to implement the existing IT project and plans as outlined in our webinar and on this page. The Commission made clear that due diligence statements should be able to be submitted in advance of the revised compliance date. We aim to start providing these to customers as soon as possible when information becomes available through the EU Traces System once it goes live in December.

 

What is EUDR?

EUDR replaces the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and extends mandatory due diligence requirements to new commodities. Under EUDR relevant commodities, such as wood, or products that contain or have been made using such relevant commodities, will be prohibited to be placed on the EU market or exported from the EU unless they meet the following criteria:

Deforestation and Forest Degradation-Free

Compliance with Country Legislation

Due Diligence Statement

An 18-month transition period began when the EUDR entered into force on 29 June 2023. This transition period will end on 30 December 2024. 

Please note that, for small and micro undertakings, the transition period is extended to 24 months after entry into force – i.e., to 30 June 2025, if relevant products are not yet subject to EUTR. Find more information on the timelines of EUDR implementation here.

 
 

UPM Raflatac on EUDR

Responsible sourcing is a top priority for UPM and UPM Raflatac. We are aware of and committed to the obligations set in the EUDR. During the transition period, a dedicated project team is assessing the requirements and taking necessary measures to be compliant with the regulation by 30 December 2024. 

We are working on processes from sourcing to the customer end to meet all regulatory requirements and to ensure necessary data will be available to customers within the required timeline, subject to the delivery of the final instructions by the EU Commission.

 

Frequently asked questions on EUDR implementation for UPM Raflatac

Please be aware that our comments refer to the supply of labelstock and other self-adhesive products to our direct customers based on UPM Raflatac’s interpretation of publicly available information on EUDR in EU sources. We recommend customers to consider their own EUDR obligations when selling material to their own customers. UPM Raflatac does not offer legal advice or consult on EUDR compliance. We recommend inquiring guidance from the EU or a third party when determining the impact of the regulation to your own business activities.

This section will be updated according to available information (current update 24.09.2024). Please find the EUDR legislative text on the EU website (including Annex I and II of the regulation).