We are excited to announce two significant updates to the new version of our Verify methodology (version 1.03) that will further enhance the quality and transparency of our data verification process. These updates are pivotal to ensuring compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), facilitating sustainable sourcing, and protecting Indigenous peoples' land rights.
Expanded country coverage for deforestation maps
As part of our ongoing commitment to support EUDR compliance, we are expanding the geographic scope of our commercial deforestation maps1. The addition of Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Peru to our platform enables more comprehensive data coverage for farm-origin geospatial datasets, particularly for commodities such as cocoa and coffee. This expansion enhances the traceability of supply chains, helping businesses meet their due diligence requirements under EUDR.
Deforestation-free production is a key requirement of EUDR. Our deforestation maps now cover an expanded range of countries, providing accurate, commercial-grade data that businesses can use to verify if farms are located in areas where deforestation has occurred. By broadening our coverage, we aim to improve transparency and accountability, supporting businesses in their journey towards sustainable sourcing.
New legality test for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities' land rights
In line with EUDR's emphasis on respecting third-party rights and local legislation, we are introducing a new test to ensure that agricultural production does not overlap with territories belonging to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC). Initially, this test will cover Colombia. In the upcoming November 2024 release of the next version of Verify, the IPLC test is expected to expand its coverage to include Brazil, Cameroon, Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Mexico, Paraguay, Malaysia, and Venezuela. However, this coverage may be adjusted based on evolving priorities and market dependencies.
EUDR requires that commodities be produced in accordance with the laws of the country of origin, including respecting land use rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, such as the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Our IPLC legality test identifies farm plots that may overlap with protected Indigenous territories. Where overlaps are detected, businesses are advised to provide additional evidence to demonstrate compliance with local regulations. Meridia Verify offers targeted mitigation steps to ensure you are sourcing according to local legislation from these regions. This new test is a key step in ensuring that cocoa, coffee, and other commodities sourced from these regions respect Indigenous land rights and adhere to sustainable practices.
By integrating these updates, Meridia Verify continues to enhance data quality, providing robust tools for data verification and helping businesses assess EUDR compliance. Our expanded deforestation maps and IPLC legality tests ensure that companies can meet their due diligence obligations, promote sustainable sourcing, and protect vital Indigenous and community lands.
1 We use ICE CoT EUDR Deforestation Maps, produced by Space Intelligence for use in the ICE Commodity Traceability platform (ICE CoT). ICE CoT EUDR Deforestation Maps are used [by Meridia] under a limited sub-license from ICE Benchmark Administration Limited.
2 Map generated using QGIS (qgis.org), with data from Google Satellite imagery (c) 2023
