What the EUDR is
The EU Deforestation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1115) bans placing certain commodities and products on the EU market, or exporting them from the EU, unless they are deforestation-free, produced legally and covered by a due diligence statement. Wood is one of the covered commodities, alongside cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber and soya (European Commission).
After two delays, a targeted revision to simplify and postpone the regulation was signed off in December 2025. It now applies from 30 December 2026 for EU timber operators (Council of the EU), with a later start for the smallest businesses. Check the current text before relying on any date or detail.
What it requires
In short: no deforestation, legal production and documented due diligence – including knowing where the timber was harvested.
| Requirement | What it means for wood products |
|---|---|
| Deforestation-free | Not from land deforested after the regulation's cut-off date of 31 December 2020 |
| Legal | Produced in line with the relevant laws of the country of production |
| Due diligence | Operators gather information, assess risk and mitigate it |
| Traceability | Information linking products to where the wood was harvested |
| Due diligence statement | Submitted before placing on the market or exporting |
The detail – which businesses must submit statements, simplified rules for low-risk countries and for downstream businesses – is set out in the regulation as revised, and in the Commission's guidance (European Commission).
How it affects European oak flooring
European oak flooring made in the EU and sold in the EU – or exported from it – falls within the EUDR's scope, so the EU businesses involved must do due diligence on the oak. That has two practical effects for buyers outside Europe:
- More traceability information should exist upstream. EU operators need harvest-location and legality information to comply.
- Documentation quality varies. How much of that information reaches an Australian or New Zealand buyer depends on the supply chain and the supplier.
| Supply chain | Where the EUDR bites | What an AU/NZ buyer should do |
|---|---|---|
| Oak harvested and made into flooring in the EU, exported | EU operator/exporter must comply before export | Ask your supplier for documentation for your order |
| Oak harvested in the EU, exported as logs or sawn timber, made into flooring elsewhere | Applies to the EU export of the timber; later steps are outside the EU | Ask where it was harvested and where it was manufactured |
| Oak from outside the EU | Not relevant unless placed on the EU market | Rely on AU/NZ legality requirements and supplier documentation |
This is why "European oak" and "made in Europe" are different claims. Ask where the timber was harvested and where the flooring was manufactured.
The EUDR vs Australian and NZ rules
The EUDR doesn't regulate imports into Australia or New Zealand – local laws do. Australian importers of regulated timber products must comply with the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012, reformed by the 2024 amendments and Rules in force from 3 March 2025 (DAFF). New Zealand's legal harvest assurance regime is being redesigned (MPI).
| Rule | Who it regulates | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| EUDR (EU) | Operators placing on or exporting from the EU market | Deforestation-free, legality, traceability |
| Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (AU) | Importers of regulated timber products, processors of raw logs | Legality and due diligence |
| NZ legal harvest regime | Being redesigned – check MPI | Legality assurance |
For the Australian detail, see illegal logging laws and timber flooring. For NZ imports more broadly, see importing timber flooring into NZ.
EUDR, FSC and PEFC
EUDR compliance and forest certification are different things. The EUDR is law; FSC and PEFC are voluntary certification schemes for forest management and chain of custody. Certification information may support an operator's due diligence, but it does not automatically mean a product meets the EUDR, and EUDR compliance doesn't mean a product is certified. See FSC and PEFC certification explained.
What it means for Timbo partners
For flooring retailers, builders and specifiers in Australia and New Zealand, the EUDR is mainly a reason to expect – and ask for – better provenance documentation. Practical steps:
- Ask Timbo for documentation for your order. We won't claim an EUDR status or certificate we can't provide for that order.
- Ask two separate questions: where was the oak harvested, and where was the flooring manufactured?
- Add a legality clause to specifications. Our architects' specification guide includes one.
- Keep the paperwork in the job file so you can answer client questions later.
Oak supply itself looks stable: there is no evidence of a European oak shortage, and one French source reports standing-oak prices fell 17% from 2024 to 2025 (Avecdessi). Whether compliance costs flow through to prices over time is uncertain.
Why it matters to clients
Architects, developers and an increasing number of homeowners ask where timber comes from. Being able to say "Prime grade European oak, and here is the documentation available for this order" is stronger than a vague sustainability claim. For background on the product, see European oak floorboards and oak flooring grades. Architects and designers can find more on the designers and architects page.
Sources
- Council of the EU – Deforestation: Council signs off targeted revision to simplify and postpone the regulation (18 December 2025): consilium.europa.eu
- European Commission – Regulation on deforestation-free products: environment.ec.europa.eu
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Illegal logging: agriculture.gov.au
- Ministry for Primary Industries – Legal harvest assurance system for timber: mpi.govt.nz
- Avecdessi – The price of wood in 2026: avecdessi.fr
Frequently asked questions
When does the EUDR start?
The EUDR applies from 30 December 2026 to EU operators, following a targeted revision signed off in December 2025 that simplified and postponed it (Council of the EU). Smaller operators have a later date – check the current text.
Does the EUDR apply to Australian or NZ businesses?
Not directly. It regulates businesses placing products on the EU market or exporting from the EU. Australian importers follow the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act, and NZ importers follow NZ rules.
Is European oak a deforestation risk?
European oak comes largely from managed forests, and the EUDR's focus is on deforestation after 2020 and legality. Still, the regulation applies to all covered wood products regardless of origin, so EU operators must do due diligence.
Does EUDR compliance mean the oak is FSC or PEFC certified?
No. EUDR is a legal requirement; FSC and PEFC are voluntary certification schemes. One doesn't imply the other, although certification information can help with due diligence.
What should I ask Timbo about EUDR?
Ask Timbo for the documentation available for your order. Timbo won't claim a compliance status or certificate it can't provide for that order.
What did the EUDR replace?
It replaces the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which banned illegally harvested timber on the EU market. The EUDR adds a deforestation-free requirement and stronger traceability.