New requirements for farmers for the 2024 harvest following the EU Deforestation Regulation

Background

From December 30, 2024, all soy traded in the EU, as well as relevant products such as soy meal and soy oil, must comply with the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This means that the 2024 harvest must already meet these requirements. Exception: Micro and small enterprises have until 30.06.2025. Soya that is sold on the EU market before the end of this transitional period does not have to meet the requirements. However, it is currently unclrear whether companies that sell to medium and large companies, where the goods are mixed, will still have to provide all data in accordance with the EUDR despite the exemption.

According to the EUDR, geolocation data must be available for all soy fields. The geodata must be uploaded to a new EUDR information system as part of the due diligence declaration (not the same as the Donau Soja voluntary declarations) – otherwise the soy may not be sold on the EU market. Each due diligence declaration receives a reference number that must be passed along the supply chain.

What does this mean for farmers

EU farmers: As first-time distributors, EU farmers must fill out the due diligence declaration or can, for example, authorize the storage facility to do this. In both cases, the geolocation data of all soy fields must be collected and passed on from the 2024 harvest onwards. (Exception: If farmers fall under the definition of medium-sized or large companies, the soy must meet the requirements from 30.12.2024. Definition of SMEs here: https://www.donausoja.org/de/eudr-infoprozess/)

Non-EU farmers: If soy or relevant products such as soy meal or oil are to be sold in the EU, the geolocation data of the fields must be collected and shared so that the initial marketer in the EU has all the information for the due diligence declaration. For imports by medium and large companies from 30.12.2024, the geodata for the 2024 harvest must be available.

Informationen for EUDR Due Diligence Statement

In addition to the geolocation data of all fields, the following information must be shared:

• • Product and quantity: e.g. 1,000 kg of soybeans
  • Harmonized System Code for soy (HS Code; in Annex I of the EUDR; see below): 1201
  • Country of origin: e.g. Austria

Farmers can declare all their fields, regardless of whether soy was grown on them in the first year or not (so-called “Declaration in Excess”). In subsequent years, the relevant fields can then be selected and no longer need to be entered into the EUDR information system.

Annex 1 EUDR lists relevant soy products and HS codes as follows:

• • 1201 Soya beans, whether or not broken
  • 1208 10 Soya bean flour and meal
  • 1507 Soya bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
  • 2304 Oilcake and other solid residues resulting from the extraction of soya bean oil, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oi

Donau Soja self-commitment declarations (SVE) and geolocation data

There are various ways for Donau Soja / Europe Soya farmers to pass on geolocation data.

As of harvest 2025 at the latest: EU farmers can share geolocation data in one of the following ways:

• 1. Upload to the Donau Soja IT system: In the Donau Soja database, the geolocation and polygon data is marked and saved directly, like with Google Earth. Information including explanatory videos will follow shortly.
  2. Delivered to the Donau Soja certified first collector: The Donau Soja certified first collector is authorized to fill out the due diligence declaration and the geolocation data will be passed on to him.
  3. Reference number of the EUDR due diligence declaration: The geolocation data is entered directly by the farmer into the EUDR information system as part of the due diligence declaration and the reference number is stated in the Donau Soja/Europe Soya Farmers’ Self-Commitment Declaration.

Non-EU farmers can share geolocation data in one of the following ways:

1. 1. Upload to the Donau Soja IT system: In the Donau Soja database, the geolocation and polygon data is marked and saved directly, like with Google Earth. Information including explanatory videos will follow shortly.
   2. Delivered to the Donau Soja certified first collector: The Donau Soja certified first collector is authorized to fill out the due diligence declaration and the geolocation data will be passed on to him.
   3. In RS-3 countries (Ukraine, Moldova): the geo-coordinates are transmitted directly from the control point to Donausoja.

Information about geolocation data of the cultivated areas

For the 2024 harvest, the geolocation data of all soybean cultivation areas must be determined. (Exception: EU farmers who fall under the definition of small and micro-enterprises). 

A geocoordinate consists of a latitude and a longitude value, each with six decimals.

• • Soybean fields < 4 ha: One geolocation data point within the field is sufficient.
  • Soya fields > 4ha: Geolocation data must be collected as polygons = one geocoordinate per “corner” of the field so that the boundaries of the field can be traced (see figure 2).

The geolocation data can be determined using a computer or on site via mobile phone.

Figure 1: Screenshot of Google Maps demonstrating geolocation data

DETERMINATION OF GEOLOCATION DATA ON PC

As with a smartphone, geolocation data can be found on Google Maps by clicking once on the area.

Using Google Earth he boundaries of the field can be marked and saved as a polygon (see Figures 2 and 3 below):

1. 1. Click on the blue “chain” at the top of the image (“Add path or polygon”).
   2. Click on the respective corners of the field and connect them to form a polygon.
   3. Click on “Save to Project” and save as a KML file.

Figure 3: Screenshot from Google Earth demonstrating exporting the polygon data as a KML file.

For more information contact us at sustainability@donausoja.org.