The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has finally set December 30, 2026 as deadline for exporters of seven agricultural produce from Nigeria to Europe to comply with its regulations or lose N1.3 trillion in annual shipments.
The affected commodities include cocoa, rubber, wood, oil palm, soya, coffee, cattle and their derived products.
Under the EUDR 2023/1115, European Commission has prohibited seven commodities and their derived products unless they are deforestation-free, produced legally in the country of origin, and covered by a due diligence statement.
After two postponements, the commission said that large and medium-sized companies must comply from December 30, 2026, and micro and small enterprises from June 30, 2027.
It said: “Furniture, toys with wooden parts, tyres, leather goods, chocolate, and paper packaging placed on the market as a product in its own right can all fall in scope. With the December 2026 deadline now firm and the European Commission’s simplification package published in May 2026, the preparation window is the second half of 2026.
This guide covers what the regulation requires, who must do what, and how to get ready. “Enforcement begins with the application dates: 30 December 2026 for large and medium companies, 30 June 2027 for micro and small enterprises.
Checks are risk-based, with authorities required to inspect a higher share of operators sourcing from high-risk countries.”
Worried by the deadline, the Regional Coordinator of NEPC, Mr Benedict Hegbe, said that the regulation requires exporters to demonstrate that commodities exported to the EU are deforestation-free, legally produced and backed by proper due diligence documentation.
He added that the regulation would apply to large operators from December 30, and to small and medium-sized operators from June 30, 2027.
According to him, Nigeria’s cocoa exports face the greatest risk, with shipments to the EU valued at 1.49 billion euros in 2024, accounting for 89 per cent of the country’s cocoa exports.
The regional coordinator expressed concern over gaps in farm mapping, noting that only about half of Nigeria’s 350,000 smallholder cocoa plots had been geolocated.
He pointed out that rubber and wood exports also faced varying levels of risk and exporters to verify product classifications before shipment.
He, however, advised exporters to strengthen traceability and documentation systems and leverage the Nigeria National Traceability System to meet the requirements, urging farmers, cooperatives and exporters to work together early to protect Nigeria’s export earnings in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Also, the Chief Examiner, Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller Oyama Ekok-Oyama noted that the EUDR was introduced to address global climate change concerns.
Ekok-Oyama said the EU aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent trade in commodities linked to deforestation, explaining that compliance involved more than forest protection, as it also covered labour rights and proper documentation.
He described the Customs Service as a key gatekeeper in ensuring compliance with export regulations.
The assistant comptroller said the export module of the NSW would go live in November to provide a one-stop platform for export documentation, adding that large operators must integrate into the NSW system by December 30, while smaller firms had until June 2027 to comply.
He urged exporters to improve record-keeping and prepare their systems ahead of the deadlines.
Recall that the Federal Government had reaffirmed its commitment to expanding Nigeria’s cocoa industry while ensuring full compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), positioning the crop as a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable trade.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Kingsley Uzoma, explained at the Nigeria-EU Cocoa Roundtable on EUDR Compliance held in Abuja that cocoa was a vital driver of the country’s economic diversification agenda.
“Cocoa is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, standing as a strategic non-oil export that fuels our transition from petroleum dependency,” Uzoma noted.
