The EUDR Could Soon Include Its Brow-Raising Exclusion Of Instant Coffee – CoffeeTalk

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to eliminate deforestation linked to key commodities such as cocoa, palm oil, cattle, soy, timber, and rubber. Notably, it includes various forms of coffee—green, roasted, decaffeinated, extracts, and oils—while instant coffee remains conspicuously excluded. This oversight has perplexed industry experts, as instant coffee derives from the same single ingredient as other coffee types.

The omission appears to be a human error, with reports indicating that the European Commission plans to amend the regulation to include instant coffee due to its significant market share and potential for deforestation risks if unchecked. Presently, instant coffee falls under a customs code that does not trigger EUDR’s due diligence checks. Should instant coffee be included, it would face the same scrutiny as other coffee products entering the EU.

Currently, the majority of coffee imports, approximately 95%, consist of green coffee beans from major suppliers like Brazil and Vietnam. The inclusion of instant coffee would raise operational compliance issues for brands, allowing them to exploit existing gaps in the regulatory framework. Companies could sidestep adherence to EUDR by sourcing instant coffee outside Europe, importing it as a finished product without deforestation checks. This loophole poses continued deforestation risks within European coffee supply chains.

The proposed inclusion of instant coffee sparks dialogue about multinationals’ compliance strategies. Companies that distribute coffee in multiple formats may seek to make all their products EUDR-compliant, while others might weigh the costs of compliance against market demands. Some industry players view EUDR as an imposition, expressing grievances about the perceived neocolonialism of European regulations dictating practices in non-European markets.

While the European Commission has not definitively stated whether instant coffee will be added to the EUDR, ongoing discussions suggest it is a possibility. The regulatory framework allows for amendments through Delegated Acts, and a proposal for including instant coffee—along with palm oil-derived soap—has been tabled for public feedback. With EUDR enforcement dates set for December 30, 2026, for larger companies and June 30, 2027, for smaller entities, the future regulatory landscape for coffee—including instant coffee—remains dynamic and essential for addressing deforestation effectively.

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