EUDR — Cattle
EUDR obligations: Cattle
Live bovine animals and products derived from them, including beef, leather, and other bovine by-products.
Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, Annex I, rows 1–7
CN codes in scope
Covered products include:
- Beef (fresh, chilled, frozen)
- Leather and leather goods
- Bovine hides and skins
- Prepared and preserved bovine meat
- Gelatine derived from bovine bones
Operator obligations
You are an operator if you place cattle or derived products on the EU market for the first time, or export them from the EU.
- 1. Collect and retain geolocation coordinates for all plots of land where the commodity was produced
- 2. Verify that production did not take place on land deforested after 31 December 2020
- 3. Verify compliance with applicable laws of the country of production (land use rights, environmental law, labour law, anti-corruption)
- 4. Conduct a risk assessment before placing the product on the EU market
- 5. Implement risk mitigation measures if the risk assessment identifies non-negligible risk
- 6. Submit a due diligence statement to the EU Information System before placing the product on the market
- 7. Make due diligence statements available to downstream traders
- 8. Retain all documentation for a minimum of 5 years
Documentation required
- — Geolocation data (polygon or point coordinates) for every production plot
- — Country of production and, where applicable, sub-national region
- — Quantity of the commodity or product (in kg or m³ for wood)
- — Name and contact details of all suppliers
- — Proof of compliance with applicable laws in the country of production
- — Risk assessment record including sources consulted and findings
- — Evidence of risk mitigation measures where applied
- — Reference number(s) of due diligence statement(s) submitted to the EU IS
Trader obligations
You are a trader if you make cattle products already on the EU market available to other businesses.
- 1. Collect due diligence statements from the operator (or upstream trader) who supplied the product
- 2. Verify that due diligence statements are available and contain the required information
- 3. Submit a due diligence statement referencing the upstream statement(s) before placing on the market or exporting
- 4. Conduct own risk assessment if relying on upstream due diligence reveals gaps
- 5. Retain all documentation for a minimum of 5 years
Documentation required
- — Reference number(s) of due diligence statements received from upstream operators or traders
- — Name and contact details of suppliers
- — Quantity of the product (kg or m³ for wood)
- — Own due diligence statement submitted to the EU Information System
SME trader obligations
SME traders pass through the upstream due diligence statement rather than conducting full due diligence themselves.
- 1. Collect and retain the reference number of the due diligence statement from the operator or upstream trader
- 2. Make that reference number available to downstream buyers or competent authorities on request
- 3. Do not knowingly place non-compliant products on the market
Country risk tiers for Cattle
Risk tier determines due diligence intensity, not whether EUDR applies. Low-risk countries allow simplified procedures but still require geolocation data.
High risk
Standard risk
Enforcement date: 30 December 2025
The original date (30 June 2023) was delayed. Large operators and traders: 30 December 2025. SMEs: 30 June 2026.
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