Preparedness Check of Lao Coffee 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. In Lao PDR, coffee is a key export crop with strong socioeconomic importance, supporting nearly 100,000 livelihoods and generating significant rural income. While the EU accounts for a smaller share of direct exports, it remains strategically important due to premium markets and indirect trade flows via regional partners such as Vietnam and Thailand. As a result, EUDR compliance depends not only on EU operators but also on the availability and quality of supply chain and origin-level data from producing countries.