Last reviewed: 2 November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice; check the official texts and your own legal counsel before filing.
What the EUDR requires
The EU Deforestation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1115) prohibits placing coffee, cocoa and five other commodities on the EU market, or exporting them from the EU, unless they are:
- deforestation-free: produced on land not deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020;
- legal: produced in line with the laws of the country of production; and
- covered by a due diligence statement filed in the EU Information System before the goods are placed on the market.
Green coffee (CN 0901 11) and roasted coffee (CN 0901 21) are in scope. The operator who first places the coffee on the EU market — usually the importer — collects the information, assesses and mitigates risk, and files the statement.
Application dates
| Who | Applies from |
|---|---|
| Large and medium operators and traders; downstream operators and traders of any size | 30 December 2026 |
| Micro and small enterprises established as such by 31 December 2024 | 30 June 2027 |
| Soluble coffee (added in 2026) | 30 December 2027 |
These dates were set by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650. The Commission's May 2026 review did not propose another postponement.
Venezuela's risk category
Under the Commission's country benchmarking (first list published May 2025), Venezuela is a standard-risk country, like Brazil, Colombia and Peru. That means full due diligence — information, risk assessment and mitigation — and a 3% check rate on operators by national authorities. Simplified due diligence applies only to low-risk origins.
The information you need from origin
For each lot, the operator's due diligence statement needs:
- product description, HS code and quantity;
- country of production (Venezuela) and geolocation of every plot where the coffee was grown — a point for plots up to 4 hectares, a polygon for larger plots;
- date or period of production;
- supplier and buyer details;
- evidence that the plots were not deforested after 31 December 2020 and that production was legal.
Container lots blend coffee from many smallholders, so the data must cover every contributing plot. This is where a supplier with farm-level traceability matters.
What EMMEVI supplies with every lot
- Plot geolocation for every supplying farm, as points or polygons, in a format you can upload to the EU Information System.
- Satellite deforestation check against the 31 December 2020 cut-off.
- Legality documents: producer registration and land use, Venezuelan export permits.
- Lot-to-plot traceability: every bag carries its lot code, linked to the plots in our records at the Acarigua hub.
- Export documents: certificate of origin, INSAI phytosanitary certificate, lot quality certificate, weight certificate.
Farm names and plot coordinates are disclosed upon contract signing. A complete compliance documentation pack is available on request.
Five steps for importers buying Venezuelan coffee
- Confirm your size category and your application date.
- Ask your supplier for plot-level geolocation for the specific lot, not a general region.
- Check the plots against deforestation maps and the 2020 cut-off, and record your assessment.
- Collect legality and export documents; mitigate any risk you identify.
- File the due diligence statement in the EU Information System before customs release, and keep the records for five years.
Questions
When does the EUDR apply to green coffee?
From 30 December 2026 for large and medium-sized operators and traders, and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small enterprises established as such by 31 December 2024 (Regulation (EU) 2025/2650). Downstream operators and traders of every size start on 30 December 2026.
What risk category is Venezuela under the EUDR?
In the European Commission's first country benchmarking list, published in May 2025, Venezuela is classified as standard risk. Standard-risk origins require full due diligence, and competent authorities check 3% of operators. Always check the latest official list before filing.
What data does EMMEVI provide for my due diligence statement?
Geolocation of every supplying plot (points, or polygons for plots over 4 hectares), evidence of no deforestation after 31 December 2020, legality documents, lot-to-plot traceability and the export documents. Farm names and plot coordinates are disclosed upon contract signing.
Is roasted coffee covered?
Yes. Green and roasted coffee are both in scope. According to the Commission's August 2026 FAQ corrigendum, a company that roasts green coffee and places the roasted coffee on the EU market is a downstream operator. Soluble coffee joins the scope from 30 December 2027.
What is the deforestation cut-off date?
31 December 2020. Coffee must come from land that was not deforested or degraded after that date, and must be produced legally under the laws of the country of production.