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Master the EU Deforestation Regulation information system for verifying African suppliers. Learn due diligence statement submission, geolocation verification, deforestation checks, and supply chain compliance requirements for European market access.
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) applies to cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood products plus derived goods. All products destined for EU market require proof they are deforestation-free and legally produced. Importers and traders responsible for compliance; no exemptions for company size or volume thresholds exist.
Deforestation-free means no forest loss on production land since December 31, 2020. Legally produced requires compliance with country-of-origin laws covering land rights, environmental protection, labor standards, and anti-corruption. Due Diligence Statements document compliance; without valid DDS, products cannot enter EU legally.
The EUDR Information System (hosted on TRACES NT platform) requires operator registration. Access via European Commission portal; username/password authentication required. First-time users create account with company details, authorized representative designation, and contact information. Multi-user access available for larger organizations managing complex supply chains.
CRITICAL STEP: Designate authorized representative with system access rights. This person submits due diligence statements and manages supplier references. Document authorization in company records. System tracks all submissions; audit trails available for compliance verification by authorities.
Valid DDS includes operator details, product classifications, source commodity names, geolocation data, and risk assessment results. Each DDS assigned unique reference number upon acceptance. Traders referencing existing statements use DDS reference number rather than resubmitting. System search function enables verification of statement validity and coverage.
Check submission date, expiration status, and product/commodity coverage. Statements expire; suppliers must resubmit or provide updated versions if coverage lapses. For African suppliers, confirm statement was submitted by actual producer/trader, not intermediary claiming authority. Misrepresentation of supplier identity disqualifies statements.
| Verification Step | What to Check | Red Flags | Action if Issue Found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement Validity | Reference number, submission date, expiration status | Missing reference, expired statement, no submission date | Request updated statement from supplier before importing |
| Product Coverage | Commodity type and specific products covered | Statement covers different commodity; missing your product | Cannot reference statement; require new DDS for your product |
| Supplier Identity | Operator name, registration details, location match supplier | Name mismatch, different location than expected, intermediary submission | Verify supplier legitimacy; do not proceed until clarified |
| Geolocation Data | GeoJSON format, plot coordinates, producer location data | Missing coordinates, invalid format, implausible locations | Request corrected geolocation data from supplier |
| Risk Assessment | Deforestation risk, legality risk, mitigation measures | High-risk determination without mitigation, missing assessment detail | Request detailed risk documentation before proceeding |
Critical understanding: You become liable for DDS accuracy when referencing statements. Verify supplier identity, geolocation data accuracy, and risk assessment validity. Misrepresented or inaccurate statements trigger penalties. Substantiated concerns about data accuracy must be reported to authorities immediately. Do not ignore red flags hoping they resolve later—proactive verification prevents catastrophic liability.
GeoJSON format required for geolocation coordinates; system accepts latitude/longitude pairs identifying production plots. Verify coordinates actually correspond to supplier's claimed location. Cross-reference with satellite imagery, historical maps, property records. African suppliers sometimes submit inaccurate coordinates; verification essential before referencing statements.
Deforestation-free verification compares current satellite imagery against December 31, 2020 baseline. No forest loss on production plots since baseline date required. System compares geolocation coordinates against deforestation monitoring databases. Disputed concerns trigger additional review; substantiated concerns block statement acceptance. African deforestation monitoring databases have limitations; independent verification recommended for high-value commodities.
Risk assessment evaluates deforestation and legality risks. Determines whether risks negligible or require mitigation. Country-level assessment considers governance, corruption indices, enforcement capacity, Indigenous rights protections. Commodity-level assessment considers sector-specific risks—cocoa expansion in West Africa, cattle ranching pressure. Supplier-level assessment considers compliance history.
High-risk determination requires documented mitigation addressing identified risks. Mitigation may include supplier training, certification requirements, enhanced monitoring, or supply chain restructuring. Suppliers from high-risk countries face heightened scrutiny; enhanced due diligence necessary. African countries benchmark as low, normal, or high-risk; this affects verification requirements significantly.
Expand EUDR and supplier verification knowledge with comprehensive compliance and food safety frameworks:
Seven commodities: cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya, and wood. Also derived goods containing these commodities (chocolate from cocoa, vegetable oil from palm, beef products, coffee beverages, rubber goods, soy-based products, wooden items). Check EU Commission list for comprehensive product coverage.
TRACES NT system provides search function by DDS reference number, operator name, or commodity. Enter supplier details to locate previously submitted statements. Verify statement covers your specific product before referencing. Not all African suppliers have statements; many still preparing for compliance.
Do not reference the statement. Request corrected geolocation data from supplier. Inaccurate coordinates prevent deforestation verification. Using statement with false coordinates exposes you to regulatory penalties. Require supplier to submit amended statement with correct coordinates before proceeding.
Deforestation = permanent removal of forest. Degradation = forest remains but loses quality/capacity. EUDR covers both. GeoJSON coordinates checked for both deforestation since 2020 baseline and ongoing degradation. Both require mitigation if documented.
As importer referencing statement, you become liable for data accuracy. Verify supplier identity and data integrity before referencing. If falsified information discovered, you're responsible for reporting to authorities. Penalties can reach 4% of EU turnover. Thorough supplier verification essential.
Minimum 5 years from import date. Keep DDS reference numbers, geolocation verification, risk assessments, mitigation documentation, and all supplier communications. TRACES NT stores submitted statements; maintain your own records as backup. Authority inspections expect complete documentation.
Effective supplier verification requires systematic approach: identify in-scope commodities, request DDS or statement references from suppliers, verify statement validity in EUDR system, check geolocation data accuracy, assess deforestation/legality risks, document all verification steps, maintain 5-year records. African suppliers increasingly understand EUDR requirements; those without statements present compliance risk. Proactive verification prevents costly border rejections, regulatory penalties, and supply chain disruptions.