Published 27 June 2026
Point or polygon? Recording plot geolocation for EUDR
The EUDR wants the location of every production plot. When is a single point enough, and when do you need a full boundary? A quick guide.
The EUDR requires the geolocation of every plot your goods come from. The rule for how precise that has to be is simpler than it sounds.
The four-hectare rule
- Plots of 4 hectares or less can be given as a single point — one pair of coordinates.
- Plots larger than 4 hectares must be given as a polygon — the boundary of the plot.
Coordinates should be recorded in decimal degrees with at least six decimal places, which is roughly 0.1 metre of precision.
Getting it from your suppliers
Smallholder coffee farms are usually under 4 hectares, so a point is often enough — a supplier can read it off a phone. For larger estates or timber concessions, you'll want the boundary, which can be drawn on a map or exported from existing farm records.
Whichever you collect, keep it tied to the specific lot it belongs to. That link between the coordinates and the shipment is what a competent authority will ask to see.