When your EUDR due diligence system flags a supplier as high-risk, the clock starts ticking. A simple declaration is no longer enough and you need to prove you’ve taken serious action to mitigate that risk. For many businesses, the final, most robust step, is an on-site audit.

This is where the rubber meets the road. It can be a significant undertaking, but it’s a necessary one to ensure compliance and protect your business.

Who Does It?

While the legal responsibility for EUDR compliance rests squarely on the Operator (the company placing the product on the EU market), the actual audit work is most often delegated to specialized third-party firms.

• Global Auditing and Certification Bodies: This is the gold standard. Companies like SGS, Intertek, and QIMA have established global networks and decades of experience in supply chain audits. They have dedicated teams with expertise in specific commodities and local regulations. Their reports are highly credible and are designed to stand up to regulatory scrutiny.
• Specialist Consultancies: A number of boutique firms and consultancies also offer EUDR-specific services, often with deep expertise in particular regions or commodities. They can provide tailored solutions that might fit specific needs.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your company’s resources and the complexity of your supply chain. For high-risk suppliers, outsourcing to a professional third party is almost always the most secure option.

How Do You Go About It?

An EUDR audit is not a simple site visit. It’s a comprehensive process that merges legal and environmental verification. It should be a key part of your risk mitigation strategy. The auditor will follow a detailed checklist to ensure nothing is missed. They’ll perform a two-pronged check:

• Documentary Evidence: They will review critical documents to prove legality. This includes land titles, licenses, permits for harvesting or farming, and any documents related to land use rights and local labor laws. They will also verify that the provided geolocation data is valid and corresponds with the land documents.
• On-the-Ground Verification: This is the most crucial part. The auditor will physically inspect the plot of land to confirm it is indeed deforestation-free since December 31, 2020. They may use GPS coordinates to walk the boundaries of the plot and look for any physical signs of deforestation or forest degradation. They may also interview local workers or community members to ensure compliance with human rights and labor laws.

The auditor’s final report will provide a clear picture of compliance and a list of any remaining risks that need to be addressed before a product can be placed on the EU market.

How Much Will It Cost?

This is the question on everyone’s mind, and while the exact cost is never fixed, you can plan based on regional ranges and the complexity of your supply chain. Pricing varies quite a bit depending on where the supplier is located due to factors like travel, local market rates, and operational complexity. Keep in mind, these audits are expensive endeavors, as much as we all hope they weren’t, so don’t be too alarmed by what follows.

• Europe: As the infrastructure is already strong in Europe, and many firms are set up to handle EUDR compliance, a typical audit here goes for between €5,000 and €15,000.
• South America (Brazil, Argentina, etc.): Prices here can range from €6,000 to €20,000. These regions are a middle ground in terms of cost, but can vary due to travel costs and the relative complexity of verifying environmental claims, especially in higher-risk regions like the Amazon.
• China: Expect a price range from €8,000 to €25,000 for China, and South-East Asia as a whole. The language barriers and the complexity of supply chains have a big effect on the surcharges for the region because auditors with the proper qualifications are simply more expensive.

Let’s be honest: a surprise audit feels a bit like a trip to the dentist—costly, painful, and something you’d rather avoid. Paying thousands for a third-party audit just to prove what you already know can leave a sour taste in your mouth and a hole in your pocket.

The best due diligence is the kind that renders a punitive audit not just unnecessary, but unimaginable.

n’entropy gives you the power to pre-emptively manage risk, verify your supply chain with our integrated tools, and generate your compliance reports on demandon . We help you build a system so airtight, the risk is negligible from the start. That way, you’re not paying to clean up a mess—you’re investing in a clean slate.