KAMPALA: Uganda is gearing up to meet the European Union‘s stringent new requirements under the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a move that will impact the country’s coffee exports, a critical contributor to the economy. Approved by the European Parliament on December 5, 2022, and set to be enforced by December 30, 2024, the EUDR targets commodities like coffee, cocoa, and cattle, prohibiting products linked to deforestation from entering the EU market. As coffee exports make up more than 60 percent of Uganda’s exports to the EU, compliance is critical to maintaining access to this lucrative market.
The Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, Frank K. Tumwebaze, emphasized the importance of aligning with the new regulations during the launch of the nationwide coffee value chain actors’ registration at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday. “The EU is a primary export market for Uganda’s coffee, and we must ensure compliance with the EUDR to maintain our position in this market,” Tumwebaze noted. He stressed that registration of all actors in Uganda’s coffee value chain is crucial for proving that the country’s coffee production adheres to sustainability standards and is free from deforestation-related activities.
The EUDR requires that coffee exported to the EU be deforestation-free, produced in accordance with Ugandan laws, and accompanied by a due diligence statement that includes geolocation data. This data will enable buyers to trace each batch of coffee back to its source, ensuring that it meets the EU’s strict requirements. To meet these standards, Uganda is registering all coffee value chain actors, including farmers, traders, and processors, through the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and its partners.
The registration process, which is being offered free of charge, is seen as a precursor to establishing a National Traceability System, enabling easier market access and ensuring that Uganda’s coffee remains competitive globally. Tumwebaze announced the creation of a dedicated Technical Working Group to oversee the EUDR’s implementation. “A Geospatial Monitoring and Evaluation System has been developed to capture the geolocation data of all coffee production plots,” he added.
This system will allow UCDA and industry players to map out coffee farms and track essential details, such as farm locations and GPS coordinates. This data will be managed in partnership with Uganda’s National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U), ensuring compliance with data protection laws.
Coffee is a crucial part of Uganda’s economy. The country is the second-largest coffee producer in Africa and ranks seventh globally, with coffee exports accounting for 11-22% of commodity exports over the past 11 years. In the financial year 2023/24, Uganda exported 6.13 million bags of coffee worth USD 1.14 billion, a 35.29% increase in value from the previous year. European markets, including Italy, Germany, and Spain, remain key destinations for Ugandan coffee, with Europe accounting for 66% of the total exports.
With the global demand for coffee growing at around 2% annually, Uganda must maintain compliance with international standards to continue thriving in the competitive market. While the EU market remains central, other key markets, such as China, Sudan, and several African countries, have their own import requirements, further emphasizing the need for Uganda to ensure all actors in the coffee value chain adhere to specific regulations.
Uganda’s rapid efforts to comply with the EUDR are aimed at safeguarding the country’s coffee exports to the EU, ensuring that supply chains remain sustainable and deforestation-free. With the December 2024 deadline fast approaching, the nation is mobilizing its resources and stakeholders to guarantee that Ugandan coffee maintains its place in one of its most important markets.