<!-- https://farmer1st.org/en/glossary/eu-traces/ · updated 2026-09-28 -->
# EU TRACES and the EUDR Information System

> EU TRACES is the European Commission's online platform for certification and trade controls. The EUDR Information System is a specialised TRACES tool where operators, downstream operators, traders and authorised representatives register, submit due diligence statements or simplified declarations, and receive reference numbers.

Also known as: TRACES, TRACES NT, EUDR Information System, EUDR IS

## Why does it matter?

Article 33 of the [EUDR](/glossary/eudr/) requires the Commission to run an information system for due diligence statements. It is the single channel through which statements reach competent authorities and customs. Its functioning is governed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3084, amended in 2026.

## What does it do?

- Registers operators, non-SME downstream operators, non-SME traders and authorised representatives (with EORI numbers for customs).
- Receives [due diligence statements](/glossary/due-diligence-statement/) and assigns [reference numbers](/glossary/reference-number/).
- Receives simplified declarations from micro or small primary operators and assigns declaration identifiers.
- Supports risk-based checks by competent authorities and the interconnection with customs.

Submissions can be made through the web interface or the [API](/glossary/api/). Geolocation can be drawn on a map, entered as coordinates or uploaded as [GeoJSON](/glossary/geojson/).

## Common pitfalls

- Manual entry at scale, which is slow and error-prone for supply chains with many plots.
- Uploading geometries that fail validation, such as [self-intersecting](/glossary/self-intersection/) polygons or insufficient coordinate precision.
- Building integrations against outdated specifications; the webservice specifications were updated in 2026.

Farmer1st prepares TRACES-ready statements and geolocation files, and connects to the Information System through its [EUDR compliance](/services/eudr-compliance/) service.


## Frequently asked questions

### Can the Information System be used via API?

Yes. The Commission provides an API for machine-to-machine submission and management of due diligence statements and simplified declarations, in addition to the web interface.

### What format does it accept for plot locations?

Users can draw areas on a map, enter coordinates, or upload them in bulk using the GeoJSON standard format, according to the Commission's Information System page.

### Was the Information System changed after the 2025 amendment?

Yes. The Commission reopened it in June 2026 with the changes required by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650, including simplified declarations and new roles, and amended Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3084 accordingly.


## Sources

- [European Commission, EUDR Information System](https://green-forum.ec.europa.eu/deforestation-regulation-implementation/information-system-deforestation-regulation_en)
- [Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3084 on the EUDR Information System, EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/3084/oj/eng)
- [Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (EUDR), EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1115/oj/eng)
- [Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 amending the EUDR, EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/2650/oj/eng)
- [European Commission, EUDR simplification review, COM(2026) 191](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/a3c5c3a0-232e-43c4-b0b8-1eecb1df45c7_en?filename=Report+from+the+Commission+to+the+Council+and+Parliament+on+the+EUDR.pdf)