The precise geographical location of the plot where a product is harvested or livestock is kept – given as a GPS point or as a polygon. An accuracy of at least six decimal places is required. The geolocation data is a mandatory entry in every due diligence statement.
Without correct geolocation data it is impossible to verify whether a plot was deforested after 31 December 2020. It is therefore the foundation on which the entire due diligence process is built.
What is geolocation data within the meaning of the EUDR?
Geolocation data describes the geographical position of the plot on which the raw material was produced – the forest, the field or the pasture. It is given as coordinates in the latitude/longitude format (WGS 84). For a single, pinpoint plot a single GPS point is sufficient; for larger areas a polygon is recorded instead, tracing the boundaries of the plot. With these coordinates, authorities and software systems can use satellite imagery to check whether deforestation has taken place on the plot since the cut-off date.
Point or polygon – when does which apply?
The rule is straightforward: for plots up to four hectares, a GPS point is generally sufficient. If the plot of production is larger than four hectares, a polygon must be provided that delineates the boundaries of the plot.
| Plot size | Required entry |
|---|---|
| up to 4 hectares | GPS point (one coordinate pair) |
| over 4 hectares | Polygon (several vertices) |
We examine the differences and the practical recording of coordinates in detail in the article Geolocation: point or polygon?.
What accuracy is required?
The coordinates must be given to an accuracy of at least six decimal places. At our latitudes this corresponds to a resolution of around one metre – precise enough to identify a plot unambiguously. Approximate location indications, addresses or parcel designations without coordinates do not meet the requirement.
Tip: Capture the geolocation data as close to the source as possible – at the forest owner or producer. Whoever has to reconstruct the coordinates only later, at the importer or timber trade stage, faces the greatest effort.
Who has to provide the geolocation data?
Responsibility for complete geolocation data lies with the operator who places the product on the EU market for the first time. In practice, however, the coordinates originate at the start of the supply chain. A sawmill, for example, ideally receives them directly from the forest owner or forestry service provider. Where geolocation data is passed along the chain, it counts as part of the due diligence information on which downstream businesses rely.
Relationship to other obligations
The geolocation data feeds directly into the due diligence statement and is submitted via TRACES NT. It is also the basis of the risk assessment: only with precise coordinates can a negligible risk be demonstrated. All recorded geolocation data must – like the other documents – be retained for five years.