Under EUDR, the area of the plot determines which type of geolocation data is required. For smaller plots, a single geographic point is sufficient according to the regulation: a combination of latitude and longitude that marks the location of the plot. For larger plots, that is not enough; the regulation then requires a polygon, a series of coordinates that together describe the perimeter of the plot. The threshold used here is around an area of four hectares.
This distinction may seem technical, but it directly affects what you must receive from your supplier and how you verify it. A coffee roaster purchasing from hundreds of small plots in, for example, Ethiopia or Colombia will likely receive mainly individual points. A trader purchasing soya or palm oil from large-scale plantations is more likely to encounter polygons, and thus larger files and a greater risk of format errors.
When is a single point sufficient
A single point is permitted when the plot remains below the area threshold that the regulation sets. In practice, this occurs frequently in small-scale cultivation of coffee and cocoa, where a single household or small cooperative works a plot of less than one hectare. The point must then be precise enough to uniquely identify the plot; an address or village name is not sufficient, it must be coordinates.
When a polygon is needed
Once the plot exceeds the threshold, the regulation requires a polygon that defines the perimeter of the plot. This is particularly relevant for timber, rubber, soya and palm oil, where production more often takes place on a larger scale. A polygon consists of multiple coordinate pairs that together describe a closed shape, and must be precise enough to delineate the plot from adjoining land. For cattle, this is somewhat different, because it does not always involve a single fixed plot but rather a farm location; the commodity-specific explanation on this is found in the explanation per commodity in the knowledge base.
What this means for your conversation with your supplier
When you request origin data, it is useful to know in advance whether you need a point or a polygon, so that you do not ask the same question twice. Suppliers often work with existing systems, such as cooperative registrations or export certificates, and these do not always contain the correct format. A point that actually marks the centre of a larger area, or a polygon that is not closed, often only becomes apparent during validation. How best to conduct that conversation and what questions belong there is set out in the answers to frequently asked questions.
Why format is as important as coordinates
Coordinates that are in themselves correct are not sufficient if the file is not readable by the EU information system. Points and polygons must be submitted in a recognisable format, with sufficient decimal places to be precise. This is one of the places where files often get stuck: not because the origin is unclear, but because the file does not align with what the system expects. A structured file per commodity stream helps to address this in the same way for each supplier and each plot; how such a file is built up is explained in the page on how the building of a file works.
The assessment remains your responsibility
Whether a plot falls below or above the surface area threshold, and which format applies, is ultimately an assessment that rests with the operator itself. Eudri.com structures and validates the data you provide, but does not declare that a plot or product is deforestation-free. If you are uncertain about your specific situation, the official text of the Regulation or the competent supervisory authority is the point of reference.
Do you first want to know what role you have in the supply chain and what geolocation data applies to it? Take the free role check and see in a few questions where you stand.