Preparedness check of Kenya for the EU Deforestation Regulation

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), in force since June 2023, prohibits placing coffee and other commodities on the EU market unless they are deforestation-free, legally produced, and supported by due diligence and traceability information. Its main obligations will apply from December 2026, with extended timelines for small operators.

Coffee plays a pivotal role in the Kenyan economy, both historically and currently. Kenya's coffee is highly regarded on the international market and is a key export commodity, contributingconsiderably to the country's foreign exchange earnings. This document aims to provide an overview of existing policies, tools, and data in Kenya that could support coffee operators’ EUDR due diligence efforts, as well as identify outstanding challenges faced by those in the Kenyan coffee value chain related to information requirements under the EUDR. While the responsibility for compliance lies solely with coffee operators, national supply chain policies and tools can play an essential role in facilitating due diligence. This paper provides an overview of the ‘state of play’ – to be regularly updated – of the coffee value chain regarding traceability, deforestation, legality, and smallholder inclusion.