EUDR and Vietnamese Coffee: What EU Importers Need to Ask Their Supplier
Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 requires farm-plot level traceability for all coffee entering the EU market from December 2025. Here is what it means for Vietnamese supply chains — and the questions to ask before placing your next order.
EUDR Timeline for Coffee Buyers
All production plots must be deforestation-free from this date onward.
EU Regulation 2023/1115 officially published and active.
Full compliance required for all large companies placing coffee on the EU market.
Compliance required for SMEs and micro-enterprises.
Note: The European Commission delayed the original 2024 deadlines in late 2024. Verify current implementation dates via the official EU EUDR portal before your next procurement cycle — dates above reflect the revised schedule as of publication.
The Due Diligence Statement
EU operators (importers) must submit a due diligence statement through the EU EUDR Information System before placing covered products on the market. It must include:
Product description
Commodity type and HS code (e.g. 0901.11 for green unroasted coffee).
Geolocation of plots
GPS point for plots ≤ 4 ha. GPS polygon for plots > 4 ha. Province or region is not sufficient.
Quantity in tonnes
Exact weight of the lot covered by the statement.
Supplier information
Full name and address of the Vietnamese exporter in the supply chain.
Deforestation-free assessment
Evidence that land was not deforested after December 31, 2020.
Legal compliance assessment
Confirmation that production complied with Vietnamese land and forest laws.
The core operational challenge
Vietnam's coffee sector is dominated by smallholder farms of 0.5–3 hectares. A single 20ft container (19–21 MT) may aggregate coffee from dozens or hundreds of individual plots. Plot-level GPS data must be collected from each of those farms — not just from the processing facility or province.
Benchmarking and Your Due Diligence Level
The EU classifies origin countries as low, standard, or high risk. Your classification determines how rigorous your due diligence must be.
| Risk level | Due diligence required | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Simplified | Reduced information and assessment requirements. |
| Standard | Full | Complete geolocation, traceability, and legal compliance documentation. |
| High | Enhanced | Additional third-party audits and checks required. |
Vietnam's classification: The EU Commission's country benchmarking for Vietnam had not been finalised at the time of publication. Check the EU EUDR portal for Vietnam's current risk level before your next procurement cycle — it directly determines your documentation requirements.
Questions to Ask Any Vietnamese Coffee Supplier
Ask these before placing an EU-bound order. A supplier's response tells you their readiness level more reliably than any certification claim.
Do you have GPS coordinates or polygon data for all supply-chain plots?
⚠ If the answer is "we know the province/district" — that is not sufficient.
Can you provide farm-level traceability — individual farmer name, location, and plot area?
⚠ Aggregated "sourcing region" data does not meet the geolocation requirement.
How do you verify plots were not deforested after December 31, 2020?
⚠ Look for satellite monitoring (e.g. Global Forest Watch) or official land registry records.
Are any of your sourcing areas covered by deforestation-risk certification?
⚠ Rainforest Alliance, 4C, and organic schemes support due diligence but are not EUDR substitutes.
Have you or your EU buyers submitted a due diligence statement before?
⚠ Prior experience with the EU EUDR Information System signals operational readiness.
What documentation can you provide to support our due diligence assessment?
⚠ Minimum expected: farm list with GPS coordinates, land use history summary, supply chain map.
What EU Importers Should Do Now
Map your Vietnamese supply chain
Identify every exporter you source from and start the traceability conversation before your next order cycle.
Send a supplier questionnaire
Ask suppliers to respond in writing to the checklist above. Their answers reveal readiness faster than any certificate.
Do not treat existing certifications as a substitute
Rainforest Alliance, 4C, and organic certifications may support your due diligence but do not replace plot-level geolocation data.
Engage your customs broker early
The due diligence statement is submitted at customs clearance. Your broker needs to understand the EU EUDR Information System before your first shipment arrives.
Verify Vietnam's current risk classification
Check the EU EUDR portal. Vietnam's classification was not finalised at publication — it determines your exact documentation obligations.
Starting the Traceability Conversation
GreenTech sources directly from farming areas in Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces, with a direct farm-to-FCL supply chain that reduces aggregation steps between farm and container.
We are actively developing the plot-level GPS and land use documentation that EU buyers will need. If you are sourcing Vietnamese coffee for EU-bound shipment, contact us to discuss traceability documentation requirements for your specific order.
Discuss Your EUDR RequirementsThis guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or compliance advice. Consult a qualified EU trade compliance specialist for your specific obligations under Regulation (EU) 2023/1115.
