By Dr Paul Kazaba, Africa EUDR Policy Manager at the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is poised to reshape how forest-based commodities such as timber, paper, and furniture are traded globally. For African producers and exporters, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

Following a 12-month postponement, the EUDR will apply from 30 December 2025 for large companies, and from mid-2026 for small and micro-enterprises.

Earlier this month, I presented FSC’s tools during a well-attended webinar co-hosted by FSC, the South African Furniture Initiative (SAFI), and EcoSquare Consulting. The session provided practical insights and tools to help businesses understand and navigate the EUDR and other emerging EU trade regulations.

I explained the EUDR’s context, purpose, and scope, as well as the regulatory requirements for furniture companies wanting to access the EU markets. The regulation requires that companies placing wood and wood-fibre products on the EU market demonstrate that these are:

• Deforestation free
• Forest degradation-free
• Legally produced
• Fully traceable to their source, supported by geolocation data
• Risk assessment.

To support this transition, FSC has developed a suite of EUDR-aligned tools and solutions. The “FSC Aligned for EUDR” supports compliance through its digital traceability platform’s Regulatory Module, Risk Assessment Framework and FSC Trace. These tools and solutions are designed to help businesses adapt to the requirements while promoting broader sustainability goals.

Since joining FSC as EUDR Regional Policy Manager for Africa, I have been working closely with stakeholders across the continent to support their preparedness for this major regulatory shift. These engagements reinforce FSC’s commitment to supporting Africa’s forest sector through inclusive, locally informed implementation.