On 17 September 2026, the EUDR Community of Practice (CoP) hosted an open public session bringing together members of the wider community to reflect on lessons from six months of technical dialogue and collaborative problem-solving on EUDR implementation.
The session presented key insights from four Core Group meetings, two ad hoc discussions and a series of technical exchanges involving businesses, producer-country representatives, competent authorities, civil society organisations, technical experts and the European Commission. Participants explored recurring implementation challenges, practical experiences from different supply chains and areas where further clarification may still be required.
Launched in March 2026 by the European Forest Institute (EFI) and the EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition, the Community of Practice provides a neutral platform for stakeholders to exchange experiences, challenges and potential solutions related to EUDR implementation. Over the past six months, discussions have covered topics ranging from legality and risk-based due diligence to traceability, geolocation data, enforcement questions and supply-chain scenarios.
During the public session, participants heard updates on ongoing subgroup work covering supply-chain dynamics, substantiated concerns and timber sourcing, as well as findings from recent technical discussions. The event highlighted common challenges faced by businesses, competent authorities and other stakeholders, while creating opportunities to learn from experiences across sectors, commodities and countries.
A presentation summarising the key insights shared during the public session is available for download:
A closer look: the Core Group meeting on 8 September
What this technical exchange looks like in practice is shown by the most recent of the four Core Group meetings. On 8 September 2026, the Core Group met for its fourth session to discuss practical implementation challenges under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
A key feature of the meeting was an exchange with the European Commission’s TRACES team, which responded to questions submitted by Core Group members and provided updates on recent developments in the EUDR Information System. Discussions covered topics including due diligence statement (DDS) grouping, the 25 MB file-size limitation, API functionality, system performance, risk profiling and contingency arrangements. Participants also shared practical challenges encountered during testing and implementation preparations.
The session also received updates from the technical subgroups established within the Community of Practice. Discussions on supply-chain dynamics explored real-world scenarios where uncertainty remains regarding EUDR obligations, including re-imports following processing outside the EU and mechanisms for transferring geolocation information through complex supply chains.
Another subgroup reported on discussions related to substantiated concerns, additional information and enforcement practices, highlighting questions around information thresholds, response timelines, coordination among competent authorities and the handling of potentially non-compliant products.
The subgroup on EU and US timber sourcing presented ongoing work examining challenges faced by vertically integrated timber companies and broader questions regarding due diligence statement requirements and practical implementation.
The meeting also revisited the concept of an «EUDR Emergency Pack», intended to provide practical support for businesses and suppliers beginning their EUDR preparations closer to the implementation deadline. As part of the discussion, participants reviewed resources that could contribute to such a package, including the Sustainable Supply Chain Toolkit. The toolkit brings together practical guidance, implementation steps and links to open-access tools that can support due diligence efforts across supply chains.
The summary captures the main points discussed, including issues that remain open or require further technical clarification. It was prepared by the EUDR CoP co-facilitators to share the essential points discussed with the wider community. It was not reviewed or validated by Core Group members and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Core Group as a whole or of individual members.
Explore EUDR CoP resources
All summaries of Core Group discussions, subgroup meetings, ad hoc sessions, presentations and other materials are publicly available through the EUDR Community of Practice resource page. The site also includes information on upcoming activities and ways to engage with the Community of Practice.
