Episode 83: While we wait for EUDR - what could be done to get ready?

Title: Episode 83: While we wait for EUDR - what could be done to get ready?
Author(s): Worm, Loa Dalgaard
Description: The EU Deforestation Regulation is entering a period of uncertainty, with discussions around timing and implementation still ongoing. Recorded just one day after a major announcement about a possible additional delay, this episode of Forest for the Future focuses on what companies, authorities, and supply chain actors can do while we wait for EUDR.
Rather than revisiting headlines, the conversation moves into the practical realities of readiness. Drawing on insights from a high-level FSC-hosted webinar, the episode explores what competent authorities are likely to check in audits, what due diligence looks like beyond documentation, and where companies are struggling most in practice. You’ll hear directly from enforcement authorities with hands-on experience, legal experts unpacking why uniform implementation matters, and global perspectives on how producer countries and supply chains are adapting.
The episode also looks at why systems such as FSC remain essential during this waiting period. Certification, traceability tools, and risk assessments are discussed not just as compliance mechanisms, but as ways to build credible due diligence systems and prepare for long-term forest-positive impact.
While EUDR may be delayed or debated, the direction of travel is clear. This episode offers concrete guidance on how to use this time productively — to strengthen systems, reduce risk, and be better prepared for what comes next.
Featuring insights from:
– EU Commission: Gabor Lovasi
– Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): Trevor Armel and Matteo Mascolo
– EUDR Dutch Competent Authority: Jessica van Zetten
– ClientEarth: Michael Rice
– World Bank: Melvin Spreij