The benchmarking system classifies countries according to the level of risk of producing commodities covered by the scope of EUDR that are not deforestation-free.
The country classification has been adopted through an implementing act, accompanied by a Staff Working Document outlining the benchmarking methodology.
The Commission's methodology is firmly rooted in a commitment to fairness, objectivity and transparency. All countries have been assessed on the basis of the quantitative criteria set out in Article 29(3) of the Deforestation Regulation. The assessment is based on latest available data from the Global Forest Resources Assessment dataset by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO FRA).
The benchmarking will facilitate operators' due diligence processes and enable competent authorities to effectively monitor and enforce compliance. Additionally, it will incentivise countries to improve the sustainability of their agricultural production systems and minimise their deforestation impact.
The risk classification defines the extent of compliance checks that Member States’ competent authorities foresee among operators sourcing from different countries (1% for ‘low risk’, 3% for ‘standard risk’ and 9% for ‘high risk’).
Sourcing from low-risk countries entails simplified due diligence obligations for operators and traders. This means that they need to collect information for due diligence purposes, but not assess and mitigate risks.
The benchmarking process will be dynamic, with a first review scheduled for 2026. This review is intended to take account of the updated FAO FRA data, expected to be published in October 2025.
Overview of the country classification
