EU Cancels Forest Agreement with Liberia: What Wood Importers Must Do in 2026

Key data

Spanish and European importers of timber from Liberia face an immediate operational change: Council Decision (EU) 2026/1771, adopted on 10 July 2026, cancels the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) that the EU maintained with Liberia under the FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) system. This agreement was, until now, the mechanism that automatically certified the legality of the origin of timber imported from that country.

The denunciation of the agreement is not a minor procedural change: it means that FLEGT licences issued under that bilateral framework no longer have validity as a guarantee of legality before European authorities. Any company that used this agreement as documentary support in its import operations must review its situation urgently.

What does this regulation establish?

The EU-Liberia VPA was a bilateral agreement whose objective was to guarantee that all timber exported from Liberia to the EU came from legal sources and with good forest governance. Its central pillar was FLEGT licences, documents that certified the legality of origin and that simplified import procedures for European operators.

Decision 2026/1771 formalizes the denunciation of this agreement, which implies:

• Termination of all bilateral commitments on legality verification between the EU and Liberia.
• Extinction of the FLEGT licence system as a guarantee mechanism for Liberian timber imports.
• Disappearance of bilateral institutional support that simplified the accreditation of the legal origin of timber.

The decision may respond to non-compliance by Liberia, lack of progress in implementing the agreement, or changes in European forest policy strategy. The regulation does not detail the specific cause, but the practical effect is the same regardless of the reason: the importer assumes the entire burden of proof.

Economic and operational impact

The cancellation of the VPA has direct consequences on the operating costs and compliance risk of importing companies:

• Higher due diligence cost: Without FLEGT licences as an automatic guarantee, importers must implement or strengthen their own systems for verifying the legal origin of timber. This involves supply chain audits, additional documentation and, in many cases, hiring specialized traceability services.
• Risk of customs blockade: Timber from Liberia that cannot prove its legality through alternative means may be retained or rejected at the border by European customs authorities.
• Compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation: Importers must demonstrate compliance in accordance with this regulation, which requires proving that products do not come from deforested land. Without the umbrella of the VPA, this accreditation rests entirely with the operator.
• Review of contracts with Liberian suppliers: Commercial agreements that included clauses based on FLEGT coverage must be reviewed and possibly renegotiated.

Who does it affect?

• Direct importers of raw timber, planks, veneers or derived products from Liberia.
• Construction sector companies that use Liberian tropical timber in their projects.
• Furniture manufacturers, timber flooring and carpentry products that include Liberian-origin timber in their supply chain.
• Distributors and wholesalers of timber that resell Liberian-origin product in the European market.
• Foreign trade advisors and compliance officers of companies with suppliers in Liberia.
• Construction sector companies that used the VPA as a sustainability guarantee in public procurement or building certifications.

Practical example

A Spanish tropical timber importing company that until now received shipments of timber from Liberia accompanied by FLEGT licences used those documents to prove the legality of origin before the Tax Agency and before its end customers (construction companies, furniture manufacturers). With the cancellation of the VPA, those licences are no longer valid as a guarantee recognized by the EU.

This company must now:

1. Contact its Liberian suppliers to obtain alternative documentation proving the legal origin of the timber (national forest permits, third-party audits, FSC or other recognized certifications).
2. Review each pending shipment for import to verify whether it can prove its legality through means other than FLEGT licences.
3. Update its due diligence system in accordance with the EU Deforestation Regulation before the next import.

If it does not do so, it risks having its shipments retained at customs or facing sanctions for non-compliance with due diligence regulations.

What should companies do now?

1. Immediately audit supply chains with origin in Liberia: Identify which shipments, contracts or suppliers depended on FLEGT licences as a legality guarantee.
2. Seek alternative legality accreditations: Request alternative valid documentation from Liberian suppliers: national forest permits, third-party certifications (FSC, PEFC) or other mechanisms recognized by European regulations.
3. Review and update the due diligence system: Adapt internal due diligence procedures to the framework of the EU Deforestation Regulation, which is now the main applicable compliance instrument.
4. Review contracts with Liberian suppliers: Verify whether contracts include clauses linked to the VPA or FLEGT licences and renegotiate or update those clauses.
5. Consult with the foreign trade department or a specialized advisor: Assess the specific impact on ongoing and pending operations before the next import.
6. Communicate the change to end customers: If the company sold Liberian timber with the FLEGT guarantee as a commercial or sustainability argument, it must inform its customers of the change and the measures adopted.

Official source

Consult full regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601771