As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing, Brooks Bros (UK) Limited is pleased to announce our developing alignment with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). We understand our customer’s services may cover EU member states and we have planned to be ready to support their EUDR compliance.
What is the EUDR?
The EUDR will be mandatory from December 30th 2025 for all companies that import, export, or trade timber or timber products within the EU.
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is a new regulation from the European Union set to replace the current European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR); its primary design is to combat global deforestation and forest degradation. The regulation aims to ensure that timber and certain other raw materials, such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, rubber, palm oil, and soy placed on the EU market are sourced from legal and sustainable supply chains. Specifically, the regulation requires companies to verify that these products are not linked to illegal deforestation or land associated with forest degradation via verification and analysis of ‘geolocations’.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
At Brooks Bros (UK) Limited, sustainability is at the core of our business practices. We recognise the significant impact that responsible sourcing can have on protecting global forests and ecosystems. With the EUDR coming into full force by December 30th, 2025, we are committed to supporting our customers’ requirements of this regulation as well as continuing our compliance with UKTR and CoC certifications.
How Are Brooks Bros Tackling EUDR?
To ensure our assistance with EUDR compliance and support its goal of reducing deforestation, we are taking the following steps:
- Enhancing Supply Chain Traceability: We are working closely with out supply partners to strengthen our traceability systems to ensure that all timber products we handle can be traced to their legal and sustainable sources.
- Partnering with Responsible Suppliers: We will work with key suppliers who have implemented systems that ensure timber products come with either a geolocation file, or a specified reference and verification number. This system, which will be in place by December 30th, 2025, we will ensure our timber fulfils the EUDR’s information gathering requirements before it enters the EU market.
- Transparency in Reporting: As part of the EUDR’s transparency requirements, suppliers will provide geolocation data & harvesting dates, or if EU based, DDS reference and verification numbers with the timber products they supply. This data will be collated and archived by Brooks Bros to ensure that due diligence processes are being followed and that customers can trust the timber is legally sourced and sustainable.
- Meeting Transitional Requirements: For EU products made from timber procured during the transition period (June 2023 to December 2025), a conventional DDS reference number will be used and confirmed by Brooks Bros when relevant – 99EU9999999999. To give approval for use of this number Brooks Bros are confirming and can prove that the timber was placed on the EU market before the December 30th, 2025, deadline. This will be documented through import documents, invoices, and delivery notes, in line with the transitional provisions set by the EU. However, this documentation will not be made available to the customer. If a competent authority requests this information, they will need to reach out to Brooks Bros directly as we would be the initial issuer of the conventional DDS reference number.
Customer Responsibilities
Due to the nature of our business not all the materials we supply will be EUDR compliant from 30th December 2025, as previously stated we can meet the transitional requirements for EU sourced timbers, however non-EU timber does not fall under this requirement. Therefore, any requests for EUDR compliant materials must be lodged at quotation level to ensure we can, not only provide customers with EUDR compliant materials, but also give customers the correct EUDR information relevant to the materials being purchased. If informed after point of order or delivery, this will cause delays in sourcing the necessary information required, or worse, not being able to provide information at all.
Why This Matters
The introduction of the EUDR is an important step in the global effort to halt deforestation and protect vital ecosystems. By ensuring that all timber products traded within the EU are legally sourced and deforestation-free, we are contributing to the long-term health of forests worldwide and promoting sustainable forestry practices. This is not only beneficial for the environment, but it also supports the broader sustainability goals of the timber industry.
Moving Forward
As the regulation comes into effect, we will keep the public informed about our continued progress. We believe that through responsible sourcing, transparency, and collaboration with our suppliers, we can align with the EUDR’s goal to help foster a more sustainable and deforestation-free timber industry.
We thank you for your continued trust in Brooks Bros (UK) Limited as we work towards a sustainable future for our forests and the planet.