From 30 December 2025, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will come into effect for paper products entering the EU, including printed exam materials. Most exam centres will not need to comply immediately, but it is important that you check the EUDR guidance, especially how the EUDR defines entity size. We encourage you to regularly check the EUDR website in case of any updates.
FAQs
What does EUDR stand for?
European Union Deforestation Regulation
What is the EUDR?
Legislation designed to minimise the consumption of products coming from supply chains associated with deforestation or forest degradation. Materials in scope include paper and board, printed paper products, beef and cattle, leather goods, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, soy, rubber and wood.
What do organisations have to do?
The EUDR requires any organisation putting forestry related products on the market in the European Union (EU) to prove where the source materials (e.g. paper) came from. Organisations must provide a due diligence certificate to the EU stating the origin of the materials used in the products they are importing, evidencing that they were procured legally and providing the geolocation of the tree/source.
Which Cambridge products are affected?
Paper-based assessment materials, paper books, and paper board.
Which Cambridge products are exempt?
Paper packaging, certificates, non-commercial supplementary materials.
When will the EUDR come into effect?
EUDR came into effect on 29 June 2023.
Between 30 June 2023 to 30 December 2025, any products placed on the market will not be subject to the updated due diligence requirements.
Any products produced during this period but then placed on the market after 30 December 2024, will need to be accompanied with evidence to prove that the relevant commodity was placed on the market before the 30 December 2025.
Why is the EU bringing this legislation into force?
Deforestation and forest degradation are a huge contributor to climate change and biodiversity loss. The worsening state of global forests is having devastating effects on health, lives, and livelihoods for millions of people around the world. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change has found that halting deforestation and restoring ecosystems is the most efficient way to bring down carbon levels, after the rapid deployment of renewable energy.
How is that relevant to Cambridge?
As a publisher and examination group, we are reliant on paper. We are taking steps to reduce the amount of paper we use via the production of digital alternatives and reducing waste across our operations but in many cases, paper products remain the preferred option. We must source this paper responsibly.
How sustainable is the paper Cambridge already uses?
Overall, 60 percent of all the paper used in publishing, assessments and supporting materials comes from certified sustainable sources. These are sources that are audited and externally verified by certification schemes as meeting a series of stringent requirements relating to social and environmental factors.
What does this have to do with me as a Cambridge customer?
The EUDR may be applicable to any actor or organisation importing forestry derived products into the EU. This will depend on the size of your organisation, the products you are importing and how.
As a non-EU entity, Cambridge is not subject to the EUDR but it is required to pass the right due diligence information on to its EU based customers so that they are able to submit the right information to EU customs to prove that the products have been sourced legally and can be imported.
What information will Cambridge be providing to customers?
The regulation requires that the precise geolocation of the site from which any forestry linked materials are harvested in the EU, is recorded in a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) by the forest owner and provided to the purchaser of the materials. Cambridge has been taking steps to confirm that its suppliers are ready to provide this information so that it is able to pass the right due diligence information on to customers who are importing in scope products into the EU.
What do I need to do with the information?
Depending on information you receive from Cambridge, your organisation may be responsible for the submission of Due Diligence Statements (DDS) to the EU Traces system and/or passing EUDR Reference Number (RN) on to customers further down the supply chain to ensure that the product can be imported into the EU.
How will I receive the information I need about the products I purchase from Cambridge?
Due diligence information relating to Cambridge products will be provided to customers via a new Cambridge data management system known as Osapiens. Cambridge will shortly be getting in touch with customers to confirm the creation of an account in the new system which will give them access to any information they may need to pass on to subsequent customers or submit to the EU Traces system.
What is the EU Traces system?
The EU Traces system is an online portal created by the EU commission for the submission of Due Diligence Statements (DDS) and geolocation data by organisations or actors who import forestry related product into the EU.
The Traces system is also the mechanism by which organisations can obtain an EUDR Reference Number (RN) for goods to be imported, which can be passed on to competent authorities, operators, traders and customers further down the supply chain to prove the origin of forestry linked products and enable them to be imported and sold into the EU.
All organisations importing forestry related products into the EU who need to submit due diligence information will be required to create an account with the EU Traces System prior to 30 December 2025, and can do so via this link:
The Information system of the EU Deforestation Regulation
What are my obligations under the EUDR?
Obligations vary depending on whether an organisation is deemed to be an operator, importer of record, or a trader under the terms of the regulation, and whether it is considered a large, small and medium sized or micro enterprise by the EU.
Cambridge is unable to advise its customers on their legal obligations so we encourage any organisation potentially impacted by the EUDR to seek independent advice to ensure that they understand their obligations by 30 December 2025. The EUDR website is available for direct details and updates:
Publications – European Commission (europa.eu)
Can Cambridge submit due diligence information on our behalf?
According to the terms of the regulation, Cambridge is prohibited from submitting due diligence information, generating reference numbers, or undertaking any legal obligation pertaining to the EUDR on behalf of other organisations or individuals.
What is Cambridge doing to prepare for the regulation?
Cambridge is working with suppliers, industries bodies and competent authorities to ensure that products in our supply chain can meet the requirements of the regulation. We are working in close collaboration with our paper and print supply chain partners to do so.
We are preparing new systems for integration into our IT infrastructure to manage and pass on required due diligence information to enable our customers to import our products into the EU.
What help is Cambridge providing to its customers to comply with the EUDR?
Cambridge will shortly be getting in touch with customers to register them with our new data management system (Osapiens) and ensure that they are able to access any due diligence information they need to provide to the EU. This will be accompanied with online training on using the new system.
We encourage you to sign up to the EU Traces System as soon as possible using this link:
The Information System of the Deforestation Regulation - Green Forum
Will there be any increase in prices as a result of the EUDR?
No, we do not anticipate any price increases as a result of the implementation of EUDR compliance.
Who should I contact if I have a question?
For any general queries relating to Cambridge University Press & Assessment and the EUDR, please contact info@cambridgeinternational.org
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