Nigeria risks trade as EU sets December 2025 deadline for deforestation compliance

Nigeria faces potential trade restrictions on key agricultural exports including rubber, palm oil, soybeans, wood, beef, cocoa, and coffee if it fails to comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by December 31, 2025.

The EU initially set January 1, 2025, as the deadline for enforcing the regulation but later extended it to the end of the year to allow member states more time for compliance.

At a training program on EUDR compliance held at the University of Ibadan on February 28, 2025, Florence Omolola Jones-Idowu, President of the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants (also known as Charcoal Legality), warned that non-compliance could cost Nigeria significant export revenue.

Jones-Idowu emphasized the need for proactive measures, including implementing a Central Traceability and Release System, which ensures tree planting in proportion to forest harvest. This system would align with Nigeria’s forestry regulations, international certifications, and EUDR compliance standards.

The training, aimed at government agencies, industry stakeholders, and exporters, included participants from the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and state forestry and agriculture ministries. Representatives of farmers, producers, processors, and merchants of EUDR-regulated commodities also attended.

Jones-Idowu clarified that while wood and charcoal exports contribute to deforestation, they are not the primary cause. She pointed out that population growth, agriculture, housing expansion, economic pressures, and globalization are the major drivers, which the EUDR aims to address comprehensively.

The EU Deforestation Regulation replaces the previous European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), which primarily applied to tropical wood and charcoal. Unlike the EUTR, the new law covers a broader range of products, potentially affecting all agro-exports and non-oil exports, including items packaged with wood-based materials like cartons and paper bags.

“Even rubber derivatives, such as latex used in condom production, could fall under EUDR scrutiny, with implications for the health sector,” Jones-Idowu noted. “There are just 10 months left before the regulation takes effect, and failure to comply could disrupt exports.”

She stressed that the EU has granted an extra year for compliance, but by January 1, 2026, the regulation will be fully enforced. Nigerian exporters will need to prove that their goods do not contribute to deforestation, or risk their shipments being blocked at EU customs.

EU importers will also be held accountable under due diligence obligations. If they fail to ensure compliance, they could face prosecution, fines, or imprisonment.

Jones-Idowu urged all stakeholders along the supply chain to adopt traceability systems and tree-planting initiatives, emphasizing that compliance is not just about avoiding trade barriers but also about long-term environmental sustainability.

Felicia Udeh, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, highlighted the importance of understanding the full impact of deforestation. She stressed that beyond compliance, the regulation requires widespread awareness and education on sustainable practices.

The training, conducted by SCS Global Services (USA), was led by Jan Pierre Jarrin Peters, Managing Director of the EU Program at SCS, and Dr. Richard Bonsi, African Representative of SCS Global Services.