Where do a product’s raw materials come from, on which lands were they produced, and what evidence is available to confirm their deforestation-free and legally compliant origin? Under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), information required includes, among other things, the country of origin, geolocation data for the cultivation or production areas, and details regarding the production period. In addition, product and supplier data are required, as well as any existing reference numbers for due diligence statements. Obtaining this information is particularly time-consuming in complex supply chains. Often, the necessary data is not fully available from the immediate upstream supplier but must first be compiled across multiple stages of the supply chain.

The revised EUDR module in DataCross supports companies in gathering, consolidating, and documenting this information, as well as in the subsequent risk assessment and any necessary due diligence statements.

From Bill of Materials to Supplier Inquiry

The process begins with the import of bills of materials, which the module automatically filters by EUDR-relevant customs tariff numbers (CTNs). This reduces the effort required to manually check the bills of materials for corresponding customs tariff numbers.

In the order section, companies can then specify for which products data is required and create corresponding requests to their direct suppliers. The incoming product and supplier information is consolidated and documented within the module. Suppliers can also upload supplementary documents.

In addition to the data received, the entire communication process with suppliers is documented. This ensures transparency regarding which information was requested and which documents were transmitted. Consequently, the data and the associated correspondence do not need to be managed separately.

Support for Risk Assessment

The module performs a product-specific risk assessment based on the EUDR benchmarking system, which classifies producing countries according to their deforestation risk. For a more in-depth risk assessment, suppliers can upload additional documents that serve as a basis for the company’s evaluation. The module deliberately does not offer a fully automated risk assessment, as this would not be legally permissible or provide meaningful results. Therefore, the final assessment remains the responsibility of the company in question.

Due Diligence Statement Based on Role in the Supply Chain

The steps required thereafter depend on the company’s role within the supply chain. The module assesses this and distinguishes between downstream actors and first-time distributors:

  • For downstream actors, the designated process does not require a separate due diligence statement. Instead, the DDS reference number and the associated supplier communication are documented.
  • For first-time distributors, the module supports the submission of the due diligence declaration. If no reference number is available yet, a standard declaration is submitted.

If, however, a product consists of both components with existing reference numbers and components without reference numbers, the module allows for a grouped declaration.

The due diligence declaration is submitted via a direct interface to TRACES NT, the EU’s information system. The status of submitted declarations can be checked immediately through this interface. If necessary, due diligence declarations can be withdrawn and resubmitted directly from within the module.

EUDR Data Collection and Due Diligence Declarations in a Single System

The EUDR module in DataCross consolidates data collection from suppliers, documentation, and the submission of due diligence declarations into a single system. Standardized and partially automated processes reduce the manual effort required to capture and prepare the necessary information. Together with the accompanying tec4U support, the module helps companies reliably meet their EUDR requirements and reduce the associated time and resource costs.

For more information on the EUDR module in DataCross, visit:  https://eudr-app.com/en/eudr-app-english/