Title: | Rainforest Alliance Policy: EUDR Data Sharing Policy |
Code: | A-27-SRCL-B-CH |
Version: | 2.0 |
Applies to: | Cocoa and Coffee Farm and Supply Chain Certificate Holders |
Enforceability: | Binding content |
Effective by: | June 16th 2025 |
Expires by: | Until further notice |
Published on: | May 23rd 2025 |
Linked to | SA-S-SD-1-V1.3 Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, Farm Requirements SA-S-SD-2-V1.3 Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, Supply Chain Requirements A-26-SRCL-B-FA-V2.0 Alignment with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) |
Replaces: |
What is this document about?
This policy describes the conditions under which data related to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) from prospective and current cocoa and coffee Farm Certificate Holders can be shared and used by companies. This will support the companies in their due diligence obligations to comply with the regulation and maintain access to the European Union market.
When and how to use this document?
This policy informs prospective and current cocoa and coffee Certificate Holders of the conditions under which the Rainforest Alliance may disclose information regarding compliance with the EUDR-aligned requirements included in the Alignment with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) policy.
Changes in update from v1 to v2.0
Section | What has changed |
1. Introduction | Updated deadline for EUDR requirements to be met by December 30th, 2025, according to regulation compliance extension. |
1. Introduction | Changed requirements that Certificate Holders will be audited against from self-selected to EUDR-aligned according to Alignment with EUDR policy version 2.0, and clarification of information collected. |
2. Farm Certificate Holders | Section updated according to Alignment with EUDR policy version 2.0, outlining the information that EUDR aligned CHs agree to share and procedure for rescinding this agreement and opting out of data sharing. |
3. Supply Chain Certificate Holders | Changed requirements from self-selected to EUDR-aligned according to Alignment with EUDR policy version 2.0. |
1. Introduction
The European Union (EU) has introduced the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which includes requirements on deforestation for a range of products that are imported into the EU. The requirements of the EUDR need to be met by December 30, 2025. The EUDR currently impacts cocoa, coffee, and relevant derivatives.
The Rainforest Alliance has set up systems to support producers and supply chain actors to meet the requirements of the EUDR. In addition to the Rainforest Alliance’s standard requirements that already align with the EUDR, five additional EUDR-aligned requirements have been introduced to cover aspects of the EUDR that were not fully aligned. These requirements are only applicable to cocoa and coffee Farm Certificate Holders.
Farm Certificate Holders and prospective Certificate Holders will be audited against these EUDR-aligned requirements to support actors further down their supply chains to comply with the EUDR and continue selling their products on the EU market.
Under the regulation, companies may use certification schemes like Rainforest Alliance certification to support the collection of information, including geodata, and the deforestation risk assessment as part of their due diligence obligations. In this policy, the conditions for sharing and using these data are outlined.
2. Farm Certificate Holders
As set forth in the Policy “Alignment with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)”, Cocoa and Coffee Farm Certificate Holders (CH) verified as aligned with EUDR will provide Farm CHs’ (direct and indirect) supply chain partners and those partners’ designees with information to support their compliance with the EUDR.
Farm CHs agree that the Rainforest Alliance is permitted to:
Check their geodata against the EUDR-aligned requirements.
Share their:
Geodata,
Deforestation risk assessment, and
Information on the list of EUDR Aligned Certificate Holders on the Rainforest Alliance website.
Compliance information regarding the EUDR-aligned requirements with (direct and indirect) buyers and their buyers’ designees in their supply chain according to transactions in MultiTrace.
Certificate Holders who meet the EUDR-aligned requirements but do not want to share this information in the manner described above must notify the Rainforest Alliance by sending an email to customersuccess@ra.org using an email address associated with the relevant Certificate Holder. The email must include the correct Rainforest Alliance ID and Certificate Holder name, with the request to opt out of data sharing.
3. Supply Chain Certificate Holders
Supply Chain Certificate Holders (CH) may request access to geodata, deforestation risk assessments, and compliance with EUDR-aligned requirements, of Farm Certificate Holders who have agreed to share this data with their buyers. Supply Chain CHs may only use this data for purposes of complying with the EUDR.
Rainforest Alliance is not liable or responsible for the accuracy of geodata. Supply Chain CHs remain solely responsible for their own compliance obligations under the EUDR, including correct geolocation and legal information.
Supply Chain CHs, who access this information, agree to store this data confidentially and only share it on the EU’s information system, in compliance with the EUDR.
Other information
Date of first publication of this document (v 1.0): December 20th, 2023.
Documents indicated as “binding” must be complied with for certification. Documents indicated as “non-binding” provide non-mandatory information to help readers understand and implement requirements and other binding content.
Translation Disclaimer
For any question related to the precise meaning of the information in a translation, consult the official English version for clarification. Any errors or differences in meaning due to translation are not binding and have no effect for auditing or certification purposes.
Reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of this content is strictly forbidden without prior written consent from Rainforest Alliance.
More information?
For help in obtaining a Rainforest Alliance certificate reach out to our Customer Success team at customersuccess@ra.org
For more information about Rainforest Alliance, visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org contact info@ra.org or the Rainforest Alliance Amsterdam Office, De Ruijterkade 6, 1013AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.