The European Union has just published its updated country risk classifications under the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), marking a crucial step for companies importing regulated commodities such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, timber, cattle, and rubber.
The updated list, made public on May 23, 2025, classifies countries into three risk levels — low, standard, or high — based on deforestation trends, environmental governance, and traceability guarantees. The consequences are major: companies sourcing from standard or high-risk countries must now demonstrate due diligence based on verifiable data or risk losing access to the European market.
WHAT’S CHANGING — AND WHY IT MATTERS
According to the latest mapping:
- High-risk countries now include major commodity sources such as Brazil, Ivory Coast, Russia, Laos, and Mali.
- Most of Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa are classified as standard risk.
- Only a few countries are considered low risk, meaning most global sourcing regions will now be subject to stricter requirements.
The reassessment imposes a new requirement: companies must now map, verify, and document their supply chains down to the plot level, in accordance with EUDR mandates.
OPTCHAIN BY OPTEL: NATIVE TRACEABILITY FOR COMPLIANCE
At OPTEL, we don’t just follow regulatory changes — we empower companies to respond proactively and automatically.
With over 35 years of end-to-end traceability expertise and our digital solution Optchain, we help companies to:
- Capture precise geographic coordinates at the source, even in fragmented or rural supply chains
- Dynamically assess country risk according to the latest EUDR updates
- Generate complete due diligence records that meet EU auditor expectations
- Automate compliance from production to export
Optchain includes specialized modules for plot mapping, documentation of agricultural practices, photographic evidence collection, certification, and risk analysis, ensuring full readiness for European regulatory audits.
OPTEL is already supporting many clients in high-risk areas by providing real-time visibility and actionable insights aligned with EU legal standards.
IS YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN READY FOR EUDR?
If you’re sourcing from standard or high-risk countries, time is of the essence. Enforcement of the regulation is ramping up — and traceability is the cornerstone of compliance.
Contact us today for a quick audit of your EUDR risks and a personalized compliance roadmap tailored to your sourcing regions.
