On 29 June 2026, members of the EUDR Community of Practice (CoP) Core Group met in Barcelona to examine how legality due diligence under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) can be approached in operational contexts. Co-facilitated by the EU Sustainable Supply Chain Coalition and the European Forest Institute (EFI), the session brought together Core Group members from across EUDR supply chains, NGOs and EU Competent Authorities.
The meeting focused on legality due diligence, one of the key areas of EUDR implementation. Through a combination of technical discussions, practical exercises and peer exchange, participants explored how existing concepts and requirements may be interpreted across different operational settings.
A deep dive into supply chains
A central component of the session was the use of four complex case studies covering cocoa and coffee, palm oil and rubber, timber, and beef and soy supply chains. Working in groups, participants examined how legality-related risks may be identified, assessed and addressed, highlighting the diversity of contexts in which due diligence is applied and emerging best practices.
The agenda also included a dedicated deep dive on substantiated concerns and “other relevant information”, with contributions from Fern, Earthsight and WWF. Discussions explored how such concerns may arise and what obligations different actors may have along the supply chain.
Participants further identified additional supply chain scenarios that are not currently reflected in existing reference frameworks, contributing to a better understanding of complex actor roles and information flows within EUDR supply chains.
The session also included mini dry runs focused on timber supply chains, covering EU and US sourcing contexts. These exercises explored how due diligence could be exercised by operators sourcing from smallholder-dominant, low-risk countries, while benefiting from firsthand feedback from Competent Authorities.
Several cross-cutting observations emerged from the discussions:
- The interpretation of legality remains context-dependent.
- Supply chain structures introduce variability in how due diligence may be applied.
- Continued exchange is needed to support shared understanding and identify emerging best practices.
The insights generated during the session will now be fed back into the wider Community of Practice to support collaborative learning and ongoing technical exchange among stakeholders involved in EUDR implementation.
