The EUDR requires companies placing forest products such as wood and rubber on the EU market to ensure they are legal and deforestation-free. Companies must comply by December 2025, with smaller operators following in June 2026.
FSC worked with ASI to conduct an independent benchmarking assessment against the legislation. ASI’s resulting assessment shows that FSC’s core certification and its available tools, such as the new EUDR aligned Regulatory Module, are well positioned to help companies reach compliance.
Here is a summary of the key findings of this assessment:
- FSC’s core certifications already meet most of the EUDR criteria for credible schemes—including third-party verification, strong transparency, and safeguards against mixing certified and non-certified materials.
- Support with establishing a due diligence system – The FSC Regulatory Module establishes a due diligence system in line with EUDR requirements, covering information collection, risk assessment, and risk mitigation.
- Collecting and transmitting accurate data – FSC Trace enables companies to collect and transmit accurate data on product origin, including geolocation and time of production.
- Deforestation-free supply chains – All FSC-certified materials coming from FSC-certified management units will meet deforestation-free requirements from 1 January 2026 onwards. FSC’s Regulatory Module ensures that only deforestation-free material enters the FSC chain of custody
- Independent verification – Certification bodies provide third-party oversight, ensuring credible implementation.
- Framework for assessing and mitigating risk – The FSC Risk Assessment Framework allows companies to identify and address risks at national, sub-national, and regional levels, supporting strong due diligence. The FSC Risk Hub also provides a platform for visualizing completed FSC Risk Assessments.
- The report identified a small number of gaps in existing certification standards but noted that most of these are due to the ongoing processes of updating National Forest Stewardship Standards, as well as FSC’s country Risk Assessments. In the meantime, the FSC Regulatory Module can already be used by companies, large and small, to meet their due diligence obligations.
Looking ahead
By providing a credible due diligence system, robust data collection, third-party verification, and full EUDR alignment, FSC helps businesses navigate the complex EUDR requirements while driving global efforts to stop deforestation.
“This assessment confirms that FSC certification gives companies a trusted pathway to compliance with the EUDR and is sets the foundation for future global deforestation-free regulations,” says Sajia Hotti, FSC’s Head of Policy Alignment “It reinforces FSC’s role in creating a legal, sustainable, and deforestation-free forest products market.”
Going forward, FSC continues to support EUDR implementation and enforcement by offering its tool to EUDR Competent Authorities.
Our forests need action; EUDR is just the beginning. FSC has been dedicated to protecting healthy and resilient forests for over 30 years, and we will continue supporting our certificate holders in Europe and globally. Discover how FSC can help you reach compliance and build more sustainable supply chains: Learn more →
Read the full ASI report here.