ETRMA warns about shortcomings in EUDR data systems

Brussels – The European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) information system is “not yet on track” to meet the requirements of properly functioning supply-chains, industry bodies have warned.

A 17 May letter by the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) and other associations* said pilot-testing of the system revealed “numerous gaps that needed to be addressed.”

Furthermore, they stated, a deforestation platform meeting 24 April did not provide assurance that the system – once revised by the EU Commission – would meet business needs.

“The technical specifications of the information system and the timeline for making it accessible to all operators and traders still raises serious concerns,” said the joint communiqué.

According to the signatories, “requirements that are critical for the functioning of business supply-chains have been disregarded.”

Such requirements include the need for bulk commodities to handle large volumes of data, and the use of established standard formats for the collection of information to support traceability.

As a result the coalition called on the Commission to plan a second round of testing the system with the business community.

Furthermore, it requested that the Commission provided technological specifications for the process so that business can make the necessary technological revamp.

The Commission has also been urged to accept different data formats and to open the system to all users “as soon as possible”, and at the very latest, beginning of November.

Read the full text of the letter here.

* Signatories to the letter include: Bioenergy Europe – the voice of European Bioenergy; CAOBISCO – Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery of Europe; CEPI – Confederation of European Paper Industries; COCERAL – European association of trade in cereals, oilseeds, rice, pulses, olive oil, oils and fats, animal feed and agrosupply; COTANCE – European Leather Industry; ECA – European Cocoa Association; ECF – European Coffee Federation; ETRMA; Eurocommerce – the voice of Retail and Wholesale in Europe; EUSTAFOR – European State Forest Association; FEDIOL – EU Vegetable Oil and Proteinmeal Industry; FEFAC – European Feed Manufacturers' Federation and FoodDrinkEurope – European Food and Drink Industry