Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
250 employees maximum average, net turnover below EUR 50 million, and balance sheet total below EUR 25 million represent the criteria of which at least two must be met for a business to be considered SME under EUDR regulation (Sarmiento, 2025).
12 additional months represents the transition period introduced by the European Union in December 2024, requiring compliance by December 30, 2025, for large and medium-sized companies and by June 30, 2026, for micro and small enterprises (Sarmiento, 2025).
90% of operators that import products within the scope of EUDR are constituted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to European Union data (Sarmiento, 2025).
The certifications in Latin America operate in legally weak contexts, either reinforcing accountability or enabling corruption. It proposes legal reforms to improve governance and public trust (Avesani, 2025).