InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The discussion room fell silent when Sander Happaerts, Green and Digital Counsellor for the European Union Delegation to Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and ASEAN, began to speak. His words were brief but impactful.

"There are two important aspects to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)," he stated firmly. "The first is the legality of the product. Products entering the European Union market must be legal."

Happaerts emphasized that under the EUDR, the responsibility is no longer on the exporting country but on the companies—or, in official terms, the operators. They are required to conduct due diligence to ensure from the outset that the products they market to Europe do not originate from deforestation or legal violations.

Every product that enters will be checked by authorities in EU member states. If a product is found to be illegal and the operator should have been aware of it, the penalties can be severe. "No business wants to take a risk that big," he said.

According to Happaerts, this will make operators much more cautious. News of agrarian conflicts or alleged legal violations at a plantation, for example, could cause a company to back out. "If they are not sure, they will not take products from there," he explained.

He acknowledged that the EUDR system is complex. One of the questions that often arises is: who is responsible for implementing this regulation? He was straightforward in his response, "Not the government. This regulation was agreed upon by EU member states and the European Parliament. But the obligation falls on the companies, not the state."

However, the door for cooperation remains open. If there are initiatives from the country of origin's government to help with implementation, the EU will welcome them positively. "But if it adds a burden to the companies, that would be regrettable," he added.

Concluding his statement, Happaerts offered further communication. "If you have specific questions or a particular case you want to ask about, send them to us. We will try to find the answer."

His message was clear: in an era of global transparency, the responsibility is now in the hands of the operators. And for businesses targeting the European market, taking risks is not an option. (T2)

Source: InfoSAWIT Magazine, June 2025 edition.