EUDR geolocation: coordinates vs polygons for plots of 4 hectares or more
A Due Diligence Statement must pin every production plot to a location. For plots used to produce the commodity, you provide latitude/longitude coordinates; for plots larger than 4 hectares (commodities other than cattle) you must provide a polygon that traces the plot's perimeter, not just a single point. [Reg. 2023/1115, Art. 2(28) & Art. 9]
Why geolocation is the heart of the whole regime
EUDR is enforceable because it ties a shipment to specific land. The geolocation lets an authority (or a satellite screen) check whether that exact land was deforested or degraded after 31 December 2020. [Reg. 2023/1115, Art. 3] Without geolocation, "deforestation-free" would be unverifiable — which is why the information requirement is mandatory in every DDS. [Reg. 2023/1115, Art. 9]
The 4-hectare rule: point vs polygon
The regulation defines "geolocation" precisely. [Reg. 2023/1115, Art. 2(28)]
| Plot | What you provide |
|---|---|
| Plot of 4 hectares or less | A latitude/longitude point (a single coordinate for the plot) |
| Plot larger than 4 hectares (non-cattle commodities) | A polygon — enough latitude/longitude points to describe the plot's perimeter |
| Cattle | Geolocation of the establishments where the cattle were kept |
What a usable polygon looks like
- Enough vertices to trace the real boundary. A polygon that is really just a rough box around a large, irregular plot invites questions; the points should follow the perimeter.
- Consistent coordinate format. Decimal degrees (WGS84) with enough decimal places to be meaningful — typically six.
- Tied to production dates. Each geolocated plot must carry the production or harvest date(s), because the check is "was this land cleared after the cut-off". [Reg. 2023/1115, Art. 9]
How to get this from suppliers — without a platform
You do not need to buy a traceability platform to start. You need your suppliers to send, per consignment: the coordinates or ≥4-ha polygons, the production dates, and the country of production. Many suppliers can export this from their own farm-management or certification systems; smaller ones may capture it with a phone GPS app. What matters is that you hold the data and can enter it into the DDS.
The practical move is a clear written request that names exactly the fields you need, so a supplier isn't guessing. That request letter is the single most time-sensitive task in EUDR preparation, because origin data has the longest lead time.
An honest limit
Having a valid polygon is a documentary requirement — it is not proof the land is deforestation-free. The geolocation is what enables the deforestation check (by you, your supplier, an authority or a satellite screen); it does not itself perform it. Screening your obligations is a different thing from verifying your plots, and no amount of well-formatted coordinates substitutes for the underlying evidence.
General information about Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, not legal advice — and not a deforestation assessment. This kind of screening determines your scope, role, deadline and documentary obligations; it does not verify that any plot of land is deforestation-free. Confirm your classification with counsel before relying on it for a market-access decision.
Find out where you actually stand
You don't need a traceability platform to start — you need to know your position and exactly what to ask your suppliers for. The EUDR position report screens your products against Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, names your role and deadline, tiers your origin countries, and hands you ready-to-send supplier data-request letters.
Check if my product is caught → get my EUDR position reportQuestions
When does the EUDR require a polygon instead of a point?
For plots larger than 4 hectares used to produce a commodity other than cattle, you must provide a polygon — enough latitude/longitude points to describe the plot's perimeter. Plots of 4 hectares or less can be given as a single coordinate point. This is defined in Article 2(28) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115.
Is the 4-hectare threshold measured per farm or per plot?
Per plot. A single farm can contain many plots. A 3-hectare plot needs only a point even on a large farm, and a 5-hectare plot needs a full polygon even on a small holding. Ask suppliers to report plot by plot.
What geolocation is required for cattle?
For cattle, the geolocation is of the establishments where the cattle were kept, rather than production plots. The over-4-hectare polygon rule applies to the other commodities.
Does providing a polygon prove my product is deforestation-free?
No. Geolocation is a documentary requirement that enables a deforestation check against the 31 December 2020 cut-off — it does not by itself prove the land is deforestation-free. That still depends on the underlying evidence and any satellite screening.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EU Deforestation Regulation) — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1115/oj — Art. 2(28) (definition of geolocation; polygons for plots >4 ha), Art. 9 (information requirements incl. geolocation and production dates), Art. 3 (deforestation-free; 31 Dec 2020 cut-off).
- European Commission — EUDR implementation, guidance & FAQ — https://green-business.ec.europa.eu/deforestation-regulation-implementation_en — geolocation data format guidance.