Control Union Sri Lanka Sets Two Global Firsts in Deforestation-Free Certification as EUDR Deadline Looms

Control Union Sri Lanka has achieved back-to-back global milestones in deforestation-free certification, having issued both the world’s first Deforestation-Free Standard (DFS) certificate and, most recently, the world’s first DFS Group Certificate, the latter awarded to Samson Rubber Industries (Pvt) Ltd.

Together, the two certifications mark Sri Lanka as the first country anywhere in the world to operationalise Control Union’s newly developed DFS framework, built specifically to help producers and supply chain operators meet the requirements of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The DFS standard was developed following a year-long collaboration between Control Union teams across all regions and released in mid-2025.

The first certificate under the standard was issued to Hapugasthenna Plantations PLC, covering eleven rubber plantations managed by Browns Plantations, assessed for full compliance across legal requirements, health and safety, workers’ rights, and deforestation free and land-use verification.

The Group Certificate awarded to Samson Rubber Industries represents a significant evolution of the framework.

Where an individual certificate covers a single entity, the Group Certificate model allows multiple producers, including smallholder rubber farmers, to operate under a shared certification structure, reducing the administrative and financial burden on smaller growers while maintaining the same rigorous standards required for EUDR compliance.

“This is a meaningful achievement, not just for companies like Hapugasthenna Plantations or Samson Rubber, but for Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector as a whole,” said Roshan Ranawake, Managing Director of Control Union Sri Lanka.

“It demonstrates that Sri Lankan producers are ready to meet the highest international standards when it comes to sustainability and supply chain integrity.”

The timing carries weight.

The EUDR, which covers rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, wood, and cattle, will become mandatory for large and medium operators placing goods on the EU market from 30 December 2026, and for micro and small operators from 30 June 2027.

Companies unable to demonstrate compliance risk losing access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

Control Union’s DFS framework addresses this directly, providing a clear, independently audited compliance pathway covering all seven EUDR commodities under a single standard. Certification requires verified farm-level traceability, geolocation data, risk assessment, and full supply chain transparency.

Control Union is currently supporting clients worldwide on their journey toward EUDR-compliant supply chains and expects demand for DFS certification to grow significantly as deadlines draw closer.

Producers and buyers are encouraged to engage early, given the time required for documentation, auditing, and systems verification.

Photo caption - World’s first DFS Group Certificate to Samson Rubber Industries (top) and DFS certificate to Hapugasthenna Plantations PLC (bottom).