akar.earthCut-off date: Definition
What is the EUDR cut-off date? Why 31 December 2020 is the reference point for deforestation-free checks, and how to prove land status at that date.
A cut-off date is a fixed reference date after which land conversion counts against a product or project. Under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the cut-off date is 31 December 2020: covered commodities must come from land that was not deforested, and for wood not degraded, after that date.
Why it matters
The cut-off date turns “deforestation-free” into a testable question. It does not matter whether a plot was forest in 1990 or 2010; what matters is whether forest on that plot was converted after 31 December 2020. It also removes the incentive to clear land in anticipation of the rule, because any later clearing disqualifies the plot permanently for EUDR purposes.
How it is tested
- Each plot’s geolocation is overlaid on imagery and land cover maps from around the cut-off date.
- Analysts compare land status then with later imagery to detect conversion.
- Where imagery is unclear, field evidence, farmer records and land use history help.
Read the full page on the EUDR cut-off date and the difference from the application date.
Indonesia and Southeast Asia angle
Cloud cover in late 2020 makes single-date checks unreliable in much of Indonesia, so analysts use composites from several months either side. Older agroforestry plots, rubber gardens and shade coffee may be misread as forest in global maps; showing they were already agricultural in 2020 is key. Satellite verification with field checks reduces disputes.
Other frameworks use different cut-offs. Some company no-deforestation commitments and certification schemes use earlier dates, and carbon standards have their own land history rules, such as the ARR 10-year rule.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the cut-off date with the date obligations apply.
- Using a single global forest map without local checks.
- Assuming legal clearing after 2020 is acceptable; legality and deforestation-free are separate tests.
See deforestation-free for the full definition.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EUDR cut-off date?
31 December 2020. Commodities produced on land deforested after that date cannot be placed on the EU market.
Is the cut-off date the same as the application date?
No. The cut-off date is the reference point for land history. The application date is when the obligations start; the Commission states 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators.