In the realm of forest management, particularly for plots exceeding four hectares, a shift towards utilizing polygons for geolocation, as opposed to a single central point with a circumference, is crucial. This ensures a more accurate representation of the land in question by including boundaries for the assumed cutout area.
If an operator declares excess plots in the due diligence statement, they assume full responsibility for the compliance of all geolocated plots, regardless of their involvement in the production of commodities. Non-compliance with even a single plot renders the entire set non-compliant. So, if the boundary presented is a tax parcel boundary of 100 acres and only 50 acres are involved in harvesting, the EUDR regulations would consider the 100 acres and not the 50 when addressing compliance.
The concept of ‘negligible risk’ plays a pivotal role in determining the EUDR compliance of products to be placed on the market or exported. Operators and traders must conduct due diligence to conclude ‘negligible risk,’ but it does not apply to commodities. For operators and traders involved in importing or exporting relevant commodities and products, the provision of their Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number is mandatory.
Geolocation data can be imported using standardized file formats such as GeoJSON via an ‘import’ button in the EU Information System. So, obviously exporting this data in the GeoJSON format from the originating software would be required. Additional details of formatting haven’t been shared yet.
During the transitional period, operators and traders must adhere to specific requirements when placing relevant commodities and products on the market. Various scenarios are outlined, limiting obligations based on the timing of product placement.
It’s important to note that while these EUDR regulations are new and the industry is not prepared for them. Software that complies with the standards, as set forth thus far, exists. TRACT Forestry Software goes above and beyond in establishing transparent and secure chain of custody by using geostamps, geofences, and polygons in compliant GeoJSON formats.