EUDR plot file errors, and how to fix each one

Plot geolocation files for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are GeoJSON files with strict rules. Each page below explains one common error, what the EU Information System says about it, and how to fix it.

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Under Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, operators placing cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya or wood products on the EU market submit a due diligence statement (DDS) in the EU Information System, with the geolocation of the plots where the commodity was produced (EU Information System documentation). The geolocation is uploaded as a GeoJSON file, and the system checks it against technical rules published in its GeoJSON File Description and Validation Rules pages.

These pages explain each rule in plain English, for exporters, cooperatives and consultants who prepare plot files. Every fact comes from those official pages; where the EU documentation is silent, the page says so. The pages don't cover deforestation risk itself, only whether the file is technically acceptable.

Coordinates

Wrong coordinate system: EUDR files must be WGS 84 longitude/latitudeProjected coordinates, a crs member, or values out of range.Swapped coordinates: latitude and longitude in the wrong orderGeoJSON wants longitude first; spreadsheets often put latitude first.Decimal places: at least 6, and what truncation does to your polygonsToo few decimals, and duplicates created by truncation.

Polygon shape

Unclosed polygon: the first and last point must be the sameOpen rings and polygons with too few corners.Self-intersecting polygon: crossing lines, figure-eights and spikesFigure-8 shapes, overlapping sides and spikes are rejected.Polygons with holes are not accepted: the two-halves workaroundDoughnut shapes must be split into two polygons.

Geometry types and points

Points and the 4-hectare rule: when a plot needs a polygonA point with Area over 4 ha is an error (except cattle).LineString and MultiLineString are not accepted for plotsLines don't describe a production place.GeometryCollection in EUDR files: accepted, but check what's insideMixed or line-containing collections cause problems.

File and properties

Property names: ProducerName, ProducerCountry, ProductionPlace, AreaCase-sensitive names and 2-letter country codes.File size and volume limits: 25 MB per statement, 1,000 producers per commodityThe 25 MB limit and producer-count limits.

Checked against the EU Information System help pages on October 11, 2026. Application dates for the regulation are not covered here; check the European Commission's official timeline.

Not legal advice. These pages explain the technical file rules published by the EU Information System; they do not guarantee that a file or a due diligence statement will be accepted, and they say nothing about whether a plot is deforestation-free. Check the official documentation, which can change.