What does the competent authority check for under the EUDR?

Inspections focus on the due diligence statement and the underlying file

The competent authority checks whether a market operator has submitted a due diligence statement in the EU information system, and whether the file behind it holds up: are the geolocation data of the plots correct, has the country of origin been included with the correct risk classification, and are the documents present that demonstrate origin and production. The inspection thus does not focus on the product itself as such, but on the question of whether the risk assessment process has been conducted carefully and traceable, and whether the statement that follows from it matches what actually occurs in the supply chain.

The quantity and depth of inspections depend on the risk classification of the country or region of origin: at higher risk, greater emphasis is placed on inspection. Authorities may request and review documents, consult data in the information system, and where necessary carry out physical inspections or laboratory tests to verify origin and composition. They also check whether the statement was submitted from the date applicable to the relevant role and relevant product, since that date varies by combination. This summary describes the main lines; for the precise powers and procedures, the full text of the regulation is authoritative.

Where this is set out: the articles on inspections in the regulation

These powers and focal points follow from the chapter on inspections by competent authorities in Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, which sets out, inter alia, how due diligence statements are inspected and how the risk classification of countries affects the intensity of those inspections. The European Commission maintains a current overview on its page on the implementation of the deforestation regulation of the associated implementing acts and guidance; for the exact wording of powers and obligations, the text on EUR-Lex remains the source to consult.