The EUDR Community of Practice (CoP) has been launched as a technical platform to support structured exchange on the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The initiative brings together a wide range of actors involved in EUDR implementation to share experiences, discuss challenges and explore practical approaches in a neutral, non‑advocacy setting. The Community of Practice is jointly established by the European Forest Institute (EFI) and the EU Sustainable Supply Chains Coalition and focuses on operational and technical aspects of the Regulation.
A multi stakeholder platform
The EUDR Community of Practice is organised around two complementary components.
A Technical Core Group provides a space for in‑depth, solution‑oriented discussion. The Core Group brings together a balanced mix of participants, including:
- EU Member State competent authorities
- operators across the seven EUDR relevant commodities,
- traders, SMEs and producers,
- civil society organisations and NGOs
The European Commission participates as an observer, and external technical experts may be invited to specific sessions as needed.
In parallel, public sessions allow a broader group of stakeholders to engage with selected topics and follow emerging discussions.
First Core Group session
The first Core Group session took place on 31 March 2026, marking the start of the Community of Practice’s activities. The session brought together Core Group members representing different actor types and commodity perspectives, alongside EU Member State competent authorities from Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Discussions focused on priority challenges related to EUDR implementation and included a review of results from a stakeholder survey designed to identify key topics for future Core Group exchanges. The discussion helped identify areas where further technical dialogue, experience‑sharing and clarification may be useful.
Next steps
The next Core Group meeting is scheduled for 12 May 2026.
In addition, a public session of the EUDR Community of Practice is planned for September 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed.
Updates on upcoming sessions and outputs of the Community of Practice will continue to be shared through the Deforestation-free Value Chains Hub.
For questions or feedback related to the EUDR Community of Practice, stakeholders can contact the initiative via eudr.cop@efi.int.
