EUROPE’S ban on goods linked to deforestation is fast approaching, with Australian cattle heading to feedlots in coming months needing to tick the box for compliance.

While the EU declared Australia a “low-risk” of deforestation earlier this year, the new meat import restrictions will still require more information for compliance.

Beef Central understands that the low-risk classification has changed the required information EU-accredited  cattle producers must provide, who now need to share their “geo-location” through the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) certification. (see link at the bottom of this article for instructions)

Prior to the classification, it was widely believed that entire property maps were going to be required.

EUDR is set to come into effect from 1 January next year, with compliance likely to be needed in the coming months as cattle move through the supply chain.

Beef Central has been told that beef being harvested from cattle entering EU-accredited feedlots in September is likely to reach to EU as boxed meat at the start of next year, given six-week sea-freight times. Cattle going into backgrounding programs are more likely to need the certification even earlier, in coming months.

Europe has been struggling to get structures in place for importers, now having delayed the regulation twice. It is unclear at this point how organised the EU for the December 30 deadline this year.

The Federal Department of Agriculture has put out some guidance on what will be required from Australian exporters.

The low-risk rating means that only 1pc of importers placing regulated goods exclusively from Australia and other low risk sources on the EU market will be subject to annual checks by the EU competent authorities, as opposed to 3pc for standard risk and 9pc for high-risk origins. It also means that regulated goods originating from Australia will be subject to the simplified due diligence process set out in the EUDR.

However, under the simplified due diligence process, Australian producers and exporters will need to provide geolocation data and other information on land use to EU importers to undertake their simplified assessment.

The department will continue to inform industry of further updates affecting Australian exporters through our established channels, passing on information obtained through engagement with the European Commission.

Beef Central has been told that at this stage the geo-location data through the LPA website will be enough to comply.

Asked whether more information about land clearing will be required, a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said:

“Under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), from 30 December 2025, European Union (EU) importers will need to provide EU authorities with a due diligence statement and information to demonstrate imports are not associated with deforestation or forest degradation.

“The due diligence statement accompanying consignments must include geo-coordinates of the production locations at all points in the supply chain up to the point of slaughter in the case of beef and information to demonstrate compliance with the relevant laws in the country of production. This information will need to be supplied to the EU importer by Australian exporters.

“The department’s webpage overviews the key information requirements, including providing geolocation data for all plots when a commodity has been produced on more than one plot.”

• Beef Central has been told that an AMIC statement on the new EUDR regulations will be provided tomorrow. It will be published when it arrives.
• Click here for more information on how to upload geo-location data for EUDR purposes