India benchmarked low-risk under the EU Deforestation Regulation

The European Commission has published its country benchmarking under the EU Deforestation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1115). Regulation (EU) 2025/1093 places India in the low-risk category.

The practical effect is that simplified due diligence applies where the country of production is benchmarked low risk. The underlying obligations still stand: plot-level geolocation for every source of a covered commodity, evidence that the goods are deforestation-free (not produced on land deforested after 31 December 2020), evidence of production in accordance with the laws of the country of origin, and a due-diligence statement lodged in the EU information system before the goods are placed on the market.

Timing is unchanged by the benchmarking: obligations apply from 30 December 2026 for medium and large operators and traders, and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators.

Indian exporters of cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, and products derived from them, should expect EU customers to keep asking for traceability and conformity documentation regardless of the low-risk classification, since the EU-side operator carries the obligation.