The European interior industry faces a major administrative and logistical challenge. The new Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the successor to the well-known Timber Regulation (EUTR), places strict requirements on the traceability of wooden products. From furniture to picture frames, anyone who puts products on the European market must be able to prove exactly where the raw materials come from.
© Paradee Paradee | Dreamstime.com | Dreamstime
The European Union's goal is clear: to be climate neutral by 2050. The EUDR is a crucial tool to combat greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss through deforestation. Whereas the old EUTR focused on banning illegally harvested timber, the EUDR goes a step further: products must simply not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation, regardless of whether the logging was locally legal or not.
Which products does this apply to?
Within the home decoration and interior design sectors, the list of products covered by the regulation has expanded. These include:
- Furniture (including bamboo and rattan);
- Table and kitchenware made of wood;
- Decorative items such as figurines and ornaments;
- Frames for photographs, mirrors and paintings;
- Marquetry (inlaid wood), such as luxury cutlery boxes or jewellery boxes.
Geolocation: Traceable to the plot
The most far-reaching requirement is the information obligation. As an importer or manufacturer, you must be able to trace the origin of your products back to the exact plot where the raw materials were produced. This requires geolocation data and proof of compliance with the national legislation of the country of origin.
For the average SME in the interior design sector, this means intensifying collaboration with suppliers. Without proper documentation and a conclusive due diligence statement, a product is no longer allowed to enter the EU market.
The role of certification (FSC and PEFC)
Can a certification mark help you? Yes indeed, says Meriam Wortel of the NVWA. While a certificate by itself does not automatically guarantee full compliance, programmes such as FSC and PEFC provide a strong foundation. The documentation and audits required for these certifications make demonstrating your legal compliance considerably easier.
Important deadlines: postponement and simplification
The European Council recently postponed the implementation of the EUDR to give companies more preparation time. Here is the current timeline:
- 30 December 2026: Effective date for large and medium-sized enterprises.
- 30 June 2027: Effective date for micro and small enterprises.
- Exception: Companies in furniture and frames need to take into account specific transition periods for stocks produced before June 2023.
In addition, the regulations have been simplified in some respects. For example, only the first operator to place a product on the EU market has to submit the full declaration; subsequent traders in the chain only have to keep and transmit this information.
Advice for operators
The message to the industry is unequivocal: start taking stock of your supply chain now. Use digital tools to collect geolocation data and stay in close contact with your buyers. EUDR is not a temporary trend, but a permanent prerequisite for doing business in the European interiors market.
Source: Globally Cool / CBI / NVWA
