EUDR Risk Tiers: How Your Country of Origin Affects Your Obligations
Ahead of the implementation date of the 30th of December, 2025, the European Commission has released information on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) relating to countries of origin. Each country has been allocated a risk category, and your obligations for due diligence or inspection will be defined by these.
In this article, we explore the different EUDR country risk tiers and their implications.
Contents:
- What are the EUDR risk categories
- Low-risk EUDR country requirements
- Standard-risk EUDR country requirements
- High-risk EUDR country requirements
- A summary of the EUDR risk tiers
- How you can efficiently manage EUDR risk
What are the EUDR Risk Categories?
Countries are classified into three categories: low-, standard-, and high-risk. If you are trading EUDR-applicable goods, then your country of origin will determine the standard of compliance you will be required to meet.
Here is an overview of each EUDR country risk tier:
Low-Risk EUDR Country Requirements
If your country of origin is low risk, then you will benefit from a simplified due diligence process. You must still collect all of the key data – including species of timber and geolocation – but full risk assessments and risk mitigation measures will not be necessary.
The inspection rate for low-risk EUDR countries is only 1%, indicating a largely streamlined infrastructure with minimal disruption to traders.
More than 140 countries are in the EUDR low-risk tier, including EU Member States, the UK, the US, China, Japan, Australia, and South Africa.
Standard-Risk EUDR country requirements
When you are sourcing from a standard-risk EUDR country, you are subject to the full scope of EU Deforestation Regulation compliance measures. This includes risk assessments, risk mitigation, and the submission of due diligence records – alongside comprehensive record keeping of the same.
The inspection rate for standard-risk EUDR operations is 3%, which is not insignificant but also isn’t expected to majorly impact your trade.
Standard-risk countries are those which are not specifically named in the low- or high-risk EUDR categories, and includes major suppliers of forestry and EUDR products such as Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and Peru.
High-Risk EUDR Country Requirements
Companies trading with high-risk EUDR countries face the same obligations as standard-risk EUDR countries, will be subject to increased surveillance. This includes a higher inspection rate of 9% and a stricter burden for proof of compliance.
Currently, there are only four high-risk EUDR countries: Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea, and Russia.
Due to EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as well as other restrictions on trade and a lack of supply chain transparency with these countries, many traders may face significant challenges in achieving full EUDR compliance when sourcing applicable goods from these countries.
A Summary of the EUDR Risk Tiers
| EUDR Risk Level | Obligations | Inspection Rate | Examples of Countries Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Geolocation data Species Country of origin | 1% | EU Member States, the UK, the US, China, Japan, Australia, and South Africa |
| Standard | Geolocation data Species Country of origin Risk assessment Risk mitigation | 3% | Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and Peru Any countries not specifically listed as low- or high-risk are standard-risk. |
| High | Geolocation data Species Country of origin Risk assessment Risk mitigation (Higher standards for all compared to standard-risk) | 9% | Belarus, Myanmar, North Korea, and Russia |
How You Can Efficiently Manage EUDR Risk
To navigate EUDR risk proactively, you should check the following:
- Your Goods Classification: All your requirements for EUDR are tied to your commodity code and country of origin, so it’s important that this is correct. If you have doubts or would like extra reassurance, then you can obtain Binding Tariff Information, which will confirm your classification for up to three years.
- Your Data Systems: Supply chain transparency is central to the EUDR and its risk tiers, with the source of your goods and the ethics surrounding it providing the base of the regulation. Check to ensure that your data custody is intact throughout your supply chain and that you are removing the risk of manual entry with automaton where possible.
- Your Due Diligence Procedures: Whether it’s your first purchase from your trading partner or they are a trusted supplier, your due diligence processes must be in place to prevent penalties from EUDR noncompliance – which can have a severe impact on your business. Review your procurement and purchasing procedures to check that there is sufficient due diligence involved for EUDR-applicable products.
Customs Support Group provides Europe-wide customs and trade solutions which keep your business fully compliant from end to end. With advanced digital integrations and expert knowledge, you can rely on us to help you set up, optimise, and audit your customs processes so that you can avoid EUDR risk and minimise the cost of compliance throughout Europe.
Contact us today to find out more about what we can do for you.
