EU regulation mandates proof products are free from deforestation, impacting global forestry and national compliance efforts.
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The European Union has established a regulation requiring proof that certain products are not sourced from areas where forests have been destroyed, aiming to reduce global deforestation and carbon emissions linked to consumption and agricultural expansion. EU member states must conduct due diligence to ensure imported goods do not originate from recently deforested land or contribute to forest degradation. Implementation deadlines vary, with large and medium companies needing compliance by December 30, 2025, and micro and small enterprises by June 30, 2026. Candidate countries are also expected to align with the EUDR as part of their accession process.
In North Macedonia, government bodies acknowledge the need for legislative changes, including reforming forestry practices, modernizing the sector, establishing inventory systems, and implementing electronic tracking from logging to consumer. Experts note challenges regarding enforcement capacity, such as insufficient personnel in the State Inspectorate for Forestry and Hunting.
The EUDR is seen as a potential tool to curb illegal logging; however, experts suggest its impact will be most significant on exported processed wood products, requiring proof of origin linked to non-degraded forest locations. While North Macedonia plans to improve forestry management and increase sapling production, other regions face different hurdles. Bosnia and Herzegovina has existing systems for tracking timber origins but faces issues with corruption in the forestry sector. Albania shows partial alignment with EUDR requirements but struggles with implementation capacity rather than legislation. Italy, a major importer of wood products, lacks unified national sanctions and administrative structures despite having technical monitoring tools. The new EUDR is considered stricter than the previous EUTR regulation due to its mandatory detailed geolocation tracking.
