Uruguay’s First Wood Chip Export Complies with New EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products

The enforcement of the European Union’s latest regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) on December 31, 2024, marks a pivotal moment in the standards for exporting to the EU market. This regulation mandates the demonstration of products’ origins from deforestation-free zones. Initially affecting crucial Uruguayan exports like beef, soybeans, and timber, this directive sets a new precedent.

Responding to this regulatory shift, Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (MGAP), alongside the General Forestry Directorate and supported by the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation (AUCI), has embarked on a project, financed by AL-INVEST Verde from 2023 to 2024. This initiative, backed by the EU, commenced in May 2023, aiming to guide the General Forestry Directorate in implementing a public certification system ensuring sustainable management of the country’s native forests.

The implementation of this regulation necessitates complete product traceability, from initial production to final shipment or container arrival.

In a bid to adhere to the EU’s new requirements, a pilot program has been conducted in collaboration with Maderas del Uruguay (MADELUR). These endeavors have led to the preparation of a wood chip shipment bound for Portugal, meeting all criteria outlined by the new regulation.

While the Forestry Directorate routinely monitors deforestation, a specific georeferencing and geolocation process was implemented in this case for the establishments and stands from which wood for the chip shipment would be extracted. This was supplemented by an assessment to confirm no deforestation occurred from 2020 onwards.

Upon confirmation, appropriate compliance was granted. Furthermore, external consultants reviewed the information to ensure regulatory adherence, culminating in the issuance of a certificate by the MGAP, aligning with the EU’s updated regulations.

Source: MGAP

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