After December 30, 2026, wood furniture that enters the EU without proof of where the wood came from will be stopped at the border.
That's the short version of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). It applies to every company that places wood products on the EU market, and it introduces requirements that go well beyond what the industry has seen before.
Whether your role is in procurement, category management, sourcing, or retail operations, this regulation will affect your supply chain. Here's what it means in practice.
What the EUDR Requires
Every wood product sold in the EU must be proven deforestation-free, legally sourced, and documented with a formal statement before it can enter the market. The full regulation text and official guidance is available on the EU Commission's website.
The EUDR replaces the older EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which primarily asked whether wood was legally harvested. The new regulation raises the bar significantly. It asks: was the land this wood came from still forest after December 31, 2020? And it requires GPS coordinates of the actual plots where the wood was grown.
This is a fundamental shift in how wood products are documented and verified.
The Deadlines
December 30, 2026 for large and medium-sized companies. June 30, 2027 for small enterprises.
The regulation has already been delayed twice. As of early 2026, the European Commission has signaled it does not favor another postponement. The window for preparation is narrowing.
What Needs to Be Submitted
Before wood furniture can legally enter the EU market, the operator (typically the importer, or whoever places the product on the market for the first time) must file a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) through the EU's TRACES information system.
A DDS must include:
- Product information (HS codes, description, quantity)
- Country of production (where the wood was grown and harvested)
- Geolocation data: GPS coordinates of the forest or plantation plots (polygon data for plots over 4 hectares)
- A risk assessment confirming the wood is deforestation-free and legally sourced
- A declaration that the risk of non-compliance is negligible
All documentation must be kept on file for five years. Incomplete or inaccurate data, whether it's missing geolocation, incorrect product codes, or gaps in the supply chain record, can result in shipments being held at customs.
Even for professionals who are not directly responsible for filing the DDS, understanding these requirements is essential for asking the right questions internally and holding suppliers accountable.
The Country Risk System
The EU has classified countries into three risk tiers: low, standard, and high. The tier determines how much due diligence is required and how frequently authorities will inspect shipments. The full classification list is available on the EU Commission's Green Forum.
For the outdoor furniture industry, one of the most relevant classifications is that both Vietnam and China are rated as low risk. This means:
- Simplified due diligence procedures apply
- Operators can skip the formal risk assessment and mitigation steps
- Authorities inspect approximately 1% of operators sourcing from low-risk countries
- Full documentation (geolocation, legality proof, product data) is still required
Low risk does not mean no effort. It means a lighter compliance path compared to standard and high-risk origins, where full due diligence, active risk mitigation, and higher inspection rates apply.
One important nuance: the risk classification applies to where the raw material originates, not where it's processed. If a manufacturer in a low-risk country uses wood sourced from a higher-risk origin, the due diligence requirements follow the wood's origin, not the factory's location. Traceability across the full supply chain remains critical.
Does FSC Certification Cover EUDR Compliance?
This is one of the most common questions in the industry, and the answer is: partly, but not completely.
FSC certification provides a strong foundation. It verifies legal harvesting, offers chain-of-custody documentation, and the EU's own assessment has confirmed strong alignment between FSC standards and EUDR requirements. It covers a significant portion of what operators will need.
However, the EU has been explicit: certifications like FSC are supporting evidence, not a substitute for due diligence. The main gap is geolocation. FSC does not typically provide plot-level GPS coordinates in the GeoJSON format that EUDR requires. Operators must still collect this data independently, submit the Due Diligence Statement, and maintain records for the required period.
FSC should be viewed as a strong starting point that makes the remaining compliance steps considerably easier, not as a standalone solution. Working with FSC-certified suppliers in low-risk countries represents the most streamlined compliance path available under the regulation.
Official Resources
- EU Commission EUDR overview - regulation text, guidance documents, and FAQs
- EUDR Green Forum - implementation updates, country classifications, and the information system
- FSC's EUDR explainer - how FSC certification aligns with EUDR requirements
Our Position
Dai Phuc Hung Thinh Furniture has been FSC-certified for years. Our production is based in Vietnam, classified as a low-risk country under the EU's system, and we manufacture 100% FSC-certified outdoor furniture using sustainably sourced acacia and eucalyptus. For 23 years, we have built our reputation as one of Vietnam's most experienced and trusted outdoor furniture suppliers, earning partnerships with major European retailers like JYSK and Segmuller along the way.
We share articles like this not just as a supplier, but as a partner invested in the long-term health of the furniture industry. Whether you work with us or not, we believe the industry moves forward when professionals have access to clear, honest information. In a noisy market, clarity is what really matters.
If you're looking for a reliable outdoor furniture supplier from Vietnam, we'd love to hear from you at sales@daiphuchungthinh.com.vn.