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rawpixel.com for the US hardwood sector specifically, it also had potential
application in other countries with fragmented forest ownership,
which included some in Europe and Southeast Asia.
AHEC has presented its approach to representatives of

EU agencies and national competent authorities. Whether
it will be accepted as meeting the specific demands of the
EUDR ‘in the field’ when the Regulation is implemented
remains to be seen.
But regardless, says AHEC, the system will enable the
US hardwoods sector to make a comprehensive data-based
deforestation-free and legality claim in markets worldwide.
resolution to identify land-use changes at field and property
level, US hardwood exporters will provide geolocations at United States urges EU to delay EUDR

county level through this system. The US government has urged the European Commission
Mr Oliver emphasised that this is an equitable approach (EC) to delay the implementation of EUDR, which is due to
since the average area of US counties supplying hardwoods, come into force from 30 December.
at around 160,000 hectares, is less than that of large tropical This is according to Argus Media who have seen the 30
forest concessions, which can count as a single plot under May letter addressed to the commission's vice-president,
the EUDR. Maros Sefcovic and signed by agriculture secretary Thomas
US counties are sufficiently compact to ensure a homogenous Vilsack, commerce secretary Gina Raimondo and US trade

level of deforestation risk. Provision of county geolocations representative Katherine Tai.
also overcomes significant legal issues in the U.S. around According to Argus Media, the letter states that the signatories
anti-trust and confidentiality that would result from provision are “deeply concerned with the remaining uncertainty and
of property level geolocations. the short time frame to address the significant challenges
AHEC plans to link the satellite assessment with new for US producers to comply with the regulation".
scientific techniques such as stable isotope ratio and trace The letter goes on to say that the US authorities have
element analysis that can identify the provenance of wood together with "several stakeholders" identified four "critical
products using a simple lab test or even a handheld device challenges" for US producers to understand and comply
to assess their chemical composition. with the EUDR: no final version of the EUDR information

Under favourable circumstances, these technologies can system for producers to submit the mandatory due diligence
demonstrate provenance up to within a 20,000-hectare area with documentation has been established yet; no implementation
a high degree of confidence. Sufficient to confirm the county guidance has been provided with the traceability system
of origin, but not the property. Even this level of resolution expected to launch in November; many EU member states
requires the prior availability of a comprehensive database have not designated a competent authority to enforce the
of timber samples collected in line with strict protocols from regulation; and finally, the EU has an interim decision to
across the supply region, a process now getting underway in classify all countries as standard risk, regardless of forestry

the US hardwood sector, but likely to take up to three years. practices.
Mr Oliver added that, while the system is being developed Should these issues not be addressed before the EUDR