Special cases explained: Letters, brochures, flyers - what falls under "correspondence"?

With the entry into force of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), one topic is increasingly becoming the focus of companies in a wide range of industries: The classification and handling of paper products with regard to their regulatory classification. With regard to paper, the EUDR exemption, the so-called "correspondence" exemption, raises numerous practical questions. Companies that regularly use or clear letters, brochures, flyers or similar paper products are often faced with the challenge of correctly assigning them to product groups. This is because errors in classification can have serious consequences for compliance, logistics and, last but not least, for the obligation to provide evidence in the European Single Market. This is not only about the legally compliant implementation of the new regulations, but also about demarcation issues: What exactly is considered correspondence within the meaning of the EUDR? Which paper products benefit from the exemption and to what extent are brochures, flyers or advertising material, for example, affected? This article takes a practical look at the criteria and background to the EUDR correspondence exemption, distinguishes it from advertising materials and provides specific recommendations for action.

Special cases for materials: Bamboo and cardboard packaging under the EUDR - What applies?

With the entry into force of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the economy is facing a number of new challenges: Companies that import, market or export certain raw materials must fulfill strict due diligence obligations in order to prove that their products are not associated with deforestation or forest degradation. While the requirements for classic wood products or certain agricultural raw materials such as coffee and soy are comparatively clear, the specific application of the regulations in some special material cases creates uncertainty. Practical questions are increasingly arising, particularly when it comes to bamboo and cardboard or paper packaging: How are materials not explicitly mentioned to be classified? Which products are actually affected by the EUDR - and where do exceptions apply? The following article provides sound, practical guidance on the special cases of bamboo and cardboard packaging under the EUDR. It introduces the legal basis, explains the botanical and customs classification, sheds light on the legal gray area surrounding paper packaging and provides specific recommendations for companies. The article is therefore aimed at specialists and managers from compliance, purchasing, product management and supply chain management who are responsible for implementing the EUDR requirements - and who rely on clear, reliable classifications for materials such as bamboo or cardboard in their day-to-day business.

Sale and processing of intermediate products: Do all steps have to be documented?

The EU regulation against deforestation (EUDR) presents companies with new challenges - especially when raw materials are not traded directly as end products but are processed into intermediate products beforehand. Whether cocoa mass, flour, chipboard or vegetable oil: the EUDR also requires complete traceability back to the origin of the raw materials used at these stages of the value chain. But what exactly does this mean in practice? Which processing steps must be documented? And when does a new due diligence obligation begin? This article provides a comprehensive overview of how companies can deal with intermediate products and bulk batches in accordance with the EUDR - practical, risk-oriented and with concrete recommendations for more legal certainty and efficiency.

Geodata in the EUDR: Why it is the key to compliance

The EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains (EUDR) will apply from the end of 2025. It obliges companies that import raw materials such as soy, coffee, palm oil or wood into the EU to provide precise geodata on the areas under cultivation. These geo-coordinates - often together with an EUDR reference number - are crucial for complying with the requirements and ensuring deforestation-free products. Retailers must also be able to trace their goods back to the area of origin. This presents many with technical, legal and organizational challenges - especially if they do not have direct access to the necessary data themselves. This article shows how companies and retailers can act in compliance with EUDR with practical solutions and clear recommendations - efficiently, legally compliant and future-proof.

EUDR and the "cut-off date": How to deal with goods in stock and later placing on the market?

With the EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains (EUDR) coming into force, logistics, production planning and stock levels are coming under greater scrutiny. The deadline raises key questions, particularly for companies with goods in stock. The cut-off date defines the date from which certain products may only be placed on the market if due diligence obligations have been met. Many of the products concerned were manufactured long before this date. The aim of this article is to explain the legal requirements of the EUDR with regard to the cut-off date, to highlight the challenges of keeping records and stock levels and to provide practical recommendations for action.

Self-consumption, self-import, interim solution - when does the EUDR apply and when does it not?

Since the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) came into force, many companies have faced new challenges - not only large trading groups, but also smaller companies that import or use raw materials such as coffee, cocoa, soya, wood, cattle, palm oil or rubber. The regulation goes further than it seems at first glance: it applies not only to trade, but also when deforestation-free products are imported from abroad solely for the company's own use, for example for the canteen, office, production or training courses. Companies that have previously operated purely locally or in-house are confronted with new questions. Does the EUDR also apply if there is no direct resale? And how should complex supply chains, intermediate products or shipping via third countries be handled? In this article, we shed light on when the EUDR applies - also with regard to self-consumption, self-import and intermediate solutions - and where the regulation leaves room for maneuver or requires interpretation.

Forest, agricultural land and the legal definition: When does an area fall under the EUDR?

The tightening of global climate policy and the increasing demands for sustainable corporate governance are presenting companies in the European Union with new challenges. Above all, the EU regulation against deforestation, the so-called European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), plays a key role. When the EUDR comes into force, European and international supply chains will be put to the test - especially when it comes to products from forest and agricultural areas. The core objective of the EUDR is to prevent the import, trade and distribution of products on the EU internal market that have been produced on areas that have been unjustly deforested. The aim is to reduce forest degradation. This places the origin - the "land origin" - of raw materials such as soya, palm oil, wood, coffee or cocoa more at the heart of corporate due diligence obligations. A major stumbling block for companies is the *EUDR forest definition*, which is based on national and international boundaries, but is broader than many market participants have previously assumed. What actually counts as a "forest" under the EUDR? When does an area used for agricultural purposes fall under the requirements for freedom from deforestation? The following article discusses how forests, agricultural land and various types of use are to be assessed under the EUDR.

Natural or synthetic rubber? What the EUDR requires and how to ensure the correct classification

With the entry into force of the EU regulation on the deforestation-free supply chain (EUDR - European Union Deforestation Regulation), companies along global supply chains are faced with far-reaching obligations. This also brings the correct EUDR classification of rubber products into focus: companies must determine whether their products fall under the requirements of the regulation. Those who trade, produce or process rubber, elastomers or rubber products are particularly affected. The exact classification determines documentation obligations and risks. The distinction between natural rubber (e.g. raw rubber obtained from hevea trees) and synthetic rubber (petrochemically produced polymers) is therefore coming into focus: anyone placing natural rubber or goods made from it on the European market or importing it from December 30, 2025, must comply with strict obligations to provide evidence of origin and sustainability. In the following article, you will find practical instructions on how to make the distinction between natural and synthetic rubber transparent, classify your products in a legally compliant manner and minimize compliance risks in international trade.

Group structures and SMEs - What thresholds apply under the EU Deforestation Regulation?

With the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115), the European Union has introduced an important rule to make the import and trade of products in the EU more environmentally friendly and sustainable. The EUDR imposes various obligations not only on large multinational corporations, but also on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and complex groups of companies. In practice, this leads to numerous uncertainties, particularly with regard to the delimitation of responsibilities and obligations within group structures and SMEs. The correct application of the EUDR thresholds and an understanding of the specific obligations, also with regard to EUDR turnover limits, are crucial for legally compliant implementation and efficient integration of the EUDR requirements.

EUDR country benchmarking: How the EU will assess risk in countries of origin in future - and what this means for companies

With the EU Regulation against Deforestation (EUDR), the European Union is tightening the requirements for companies that import or trade in deforestation-relevant raw materials such as soy, coffee, palm oil, cocoa, beef, wood or rubber. A key instrument is the planned country benchmarking system: in future, it will classify countries of origin according to their deforestation risk and thus help companies to implement their due diligence obligations on a risk-based basis. Although the system is still under development, it is already clear that the future classification will have a concrete impact on due diligence processes. This article explains how benchmarking works, what criteria the EU is applying and how companies can make strategic preparations today.

EUDR compliance for composite products - when and to what depth must testing be carried out?

The requirements and adherence to EUDR compliance are currently occupying numerous companies from a wide range of industries. Those that work with complex product groups and mixtures of raw materials are particularly affected. Composite products in particular are at the top of the agenda, as it is often unclear at first glance which testing obligations actually apply and how deeply the supply chain must be traced and tested in accordance with the EU Deforestation Regulation. The combination of different materials and raw materials in a single end product in particular often causes uncertainty. The global, multi-layered supply chain also presents companies with new challenges. This article provides a classification for companies, product managers, purchasers and compliance officers.

EUDR and packaging: When are packaging, displays and instructions covered by the regulation?

The new EU regulation to combat global deforestation - the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - places new obligations on companies. There is currently a lot of uncertainty, particularly in the areas of packaging, displays and instructions for use: Does the regulation also apply to outer packaging? Are paper-based instructions and advertising materials affected? What evidence and due diligence obligations must be complied with? In this article, you will find out when packaging, product instructions, POS displays and other printed products fall under the EU regulation. We will show you how different types of packaging and accompanying materials are classified, where there are exceptions and how you can safely implement the requirements of the EUDR.

Batches, deliveries and the practical implementation of DDS in the EUDR

With the EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains (EUDR), the European Union has established new standards for traceability and documentation requirements. Companies that place products such as wood, soya, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, cattle or rubber - as well as their derived products - on the EU market or export them must submit comprehensive due diligence statements (DDS) from the end of 2025. The central aim is to ensure complete traceability back to the parcel of origin and the import of deforestation-free products. In practice, the implementation of the EUDR repeatedly raises questions. There is often uncertainty as to whether each goods receipt or delivery requires separate DDS documentation. It is also often unclear how to deal with collective batches or loosely stored materials. The complexity of the DDS becomes particularly clear when it comes to correctly establishing the link between batches, delivery documents and due diligence declarations. This article explains why batches and deliveries play an important role in EUDR.

Due diligence obligations along the supply chain - who has to do what and when?

The EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains (EUDR) marks a paradigm shift in sustainability regulation: the focus is no longer just on raw material importers, but on the entire supply chain. The EUDR obligations are also increasingly affecting downstream market participants and retailers - with far-reaching consequences, especially for SMEs. But who is actually affected? What documentation and risk analysis obligations apply? And how can you determine your own role in terms of the EUDR with legal certainty? This article brings clarity to the complex requirements of the EUDR for traders and market participants. We show how responsibilities are distributed along the supply chain, what obligations exist and how companies can make their processes efficient and compliant - including examples, recommendations and specific implementation tips.