Your European Buyer Needs the EUDR Dossier for Your Next Lot of Fermented and Dried Sierra Leonen Cocoa from Kenema, Kailahun or Bo. Here's How to Generate It in 15 Minutes.
Sierra Leone exports specialty fermented and dried cocoa from cooperatives of 100 to 300 smallholder producers across Kenema, Kailahun, Bo and other districts. Under Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, your European buyer must file a Due Diligence Statement (DDS) in TRACES NT before customs clearance. For that, they need data only you can provide: GPS coordinates of production plots, harvest dates, supply chain details, local legal compliance. Sierra Leone is classified as standard risk by the European Commission. The SLIEPA (Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency) oversees agricultural exports. EUDRCheck structures all those data points into the Annex II format — including the JSON file for TRACES NT import — in 15 minutes. €299 per lot.
€299 · One-time · 28-page professional dossier + TRACES NT files · Your data never leaves your browser
The numbers that define your cooperative's exposure to the EUDR
Sierra Leonen cocoa cooperatives typically aggregate production from 100 to 300 smallholder farmers, each cultivating between 0.5 and 3 hectares. The cooperatives operate buying stations that process cherry into fermented and dried dried beans. The SLIEPA (Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency) certifies and regulates exports. European specialty processors and chocolatiers increasingly source directly from Sierra Leonen cooperatives.
The EUDR places the formal obligation on the European importer — but without your data, they cannot file the DDS. If your buyer cannot present verifiable data from your production plots, the lot does not enter the EU.
STD
Sierra Leone's standard risk classification under the EUDR
≥ 4%
Minimum fine for your buyer — percentage of EU annual turnover (Art. 25.2.a)
€299
per lot for the complete 8-document dossier
What data your European buyer needs from you to file the DDS
Under Article 4 and Annex II, the data fields are defined by law. You provide the origin data. Your buyer structures it into the DDS and files it in TRACES NT.
Commodity and product description
HS codes 1801–1806. Theobroma cacao or Coffea canephora. Trade name, lot number, shipment quantity. Annex II point 2.
Country of production with subdivision
Sierra Leone — Kenema, Kailahun, Bo, Kono, Moyamba. Subdivision at district level. Annex II point 3.
Plot-level geolocation of every production area
Minimum 6 decimal places, WGS-84, GeoJSON RFC 7946. Points for plots under 4 ha, polygons for 4 ha or more. Article 2(28) + Annex II point 4. EUDRCheck includes a built-in coordinate generator to help your supplier produce compliant files.
Full supply chain traceability
Upstream: smallholder members, buying stations, drying floors. Downstream: exporters, European processors and chocolatiers. Annex II point 5.
Legal compliance in the country of production
Land use rights, environmental protection, Sierra Leonen forest legislation, third-party rights, labour rights, human rights, FPIC, tax and anti-corruption. Sierra Leonen legislation applies. Article 2(40) + Article 3(b).
Risk assessment against 14 criteria
Systematic evaluation of risk factors including country risk classification, complexity of supply chain, and prevalence of deforestation. Article 10.2 (letters a to n).
EUDRCheck generates the complete dossier — including a JSON file formatted for direct import into TRACES NT — in 15 minutes.
The three mistakes Sierra Leonen cocoa cooperatives make most often with EUDR documentation
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Pattern 1 — Assuming the EUDR does not affect you as a cooperative
The formal obligation is on the European importer, but without your data there is no DDS
Under Article 2(15), the operator is the European importer. But Annex II requires data only you have: GPS coordinates of your members' plots, harvest dates, supply chain details, local legal compliance. If you do not provide that data in the correct format, your buyer cannot file the DDS and the lot does not enter the EU.
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Pattern 2 — Treating certification as the DDS
No voluntary certification replaces Article 4 and Annex II
Article 10.2(m) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 classifies voluntary certifications as complementary evidence for the risk assessment. They are not a substitute for the Due Diligence Statement. A DDS must be filed in TRACES NT for every lot regardless of certification status.
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Pattern 3 — Washing station coordinates instead of individual member plot GPS
Article 2(28) requires geolocation of the production plot, not the aggregation point
Cocoa aggregated from 100+ smallholder plots at your buying station must still be traced back to each individual production plot. Only the coordinates of the production plot satisfy the regulation. EUDRCheck's built-in coordinate generator and GeoJSON validator ensure the data meets the 6-decimal, WGS-84, RFC 7946 standard.
What you receive: an 8-document EUDR dossier generated in your browser
EUDRCheck does not generate a single PDF. It generates a complete dossier of eight structured documents, delivered as a ZIP file you download and keep. Every document cites the specific EUDR article it complies with.
1
Scope Determination
Identifies your role as EU-based operator, applicable regime, legal calendar. Article 2 + Article 8.
2
Pre-filled DDS + TRACES NT JSON
Signable PDF + machine-readable JSON for direct import into TRACES NT. Every Annex II field completed. Article 4 + Annex II.
3
Validated GeoJSON
Production plot coordinates validated against RFC 7946 + WGS-84. Points for plots under 4 ha, polygons for 4 ha or more. Visual map in PDF. Article 2(28) + Annex II.4.
4
Formal Risk Assessment
Systematic analysis of 14 criteria of Article 10.2 (letters a to n). Formal conclusion on risk level. Article 10.
5
Risk Mitigation Plan
Mitigation measures when risk is standard or high. Article 11.
6
Supply Chain Mapping
Upstream (smallholder members, buying stations, drying floors) and downstream (exporters, European processors and chocolatiers) with full traceability. Annex II.5.
7
Country-of-Production Legal Checklist
Eight dimensions of legal compliance in Sierra Leone. Adapted for Sierra Leonen legislation. Article 2(40) + 3(b).
8
Post-DDS Calendar + ICS Reminders
Annual review dates, 5-year retention period, automatic calendar reminders. Article 12 + Article 32.
See before you buy — Download sample dossier (PDF, fictional company) — Real structure, real articles, real format. Fictional data.
Generated from your own input, in your own browser. No supplier data leaves your device.
What you pay to get a valid EUDR dossier per lot
🧾 REGULATORY CONSULTANCY IN KIGALI OR EUROPE
€3,000–€8,000
Typical fee per origin. Lead time: 2-4 weeks.
✓ EUDRCHECK
€299
One-time per lot. 28-page professional dossier. 15 minutes. Browser-side.
The EUDR dossier and the plantation data: two separate layers
● LAYER 1 — THE DOSSIER (EUDRCHECK DOES THIS)
The structured Due Diligence Statement
Eight documents. 15 minutes. €299. Yours permanently. Including the JSON formatted for TRACES NT import.
∅ LAYER 2 — PLANTATION DATA (YOUR SUPPLIER PROVIDES THIS)
Plot-level GPS from the origin country
You and your members provide the GPS coordinates of production plots. EUDRCheck includes a built-in coordinate generator that converts their GPS data, Google Maps pins, or KML files into validated GeoJSON. If you have mapping data from Rainforest Alliance, UTZ or similar programmes, EUDRCheck imports it.
We do not sell field data collection services. We structure the data you provide into the format the regulation requires.
Enforcement reality: what happens when the DDS is missing at EU customs
Under Article 25, consequences apply to the operator placing non-compliant products on the EU market. Your European buyer faces these sanctions. If they cannot file the DDS because you did not provide the data, they lose the lot and the trust in you as a supplier.
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Fines — minimum 4% of EU annual turnover
≥ 4%
Article 25.2(a). For a European importer with €10M EU turnover, the minimum fine starts at €400,000. The maximum may exceed the economic benefit gained from the infringement.
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Confiscation of the commodity and its revenues
100%
Article 25.2(b) and (c). The cocoa shipment and all revenues may be seized by EU customs.
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Exclusion from EU public procurement
12 months max
Article 25.2(d). Temporary exclusion from tendering procedures, grants and concessions.
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Temporary ban on placing cocoa on the EU market
Until compliance
Article 25.2(e). In serious or repeated cases, prohibition on placing relevant products on the EU market until full compliance is demonstrated.
Under Article 25.5, every final infringement decision is published by the Commission.
Alternatives Sierra Leonen cooperatives usually consider
| Alternative | Cost | What you get |
|---|
| Regulatory consultancy (Kigali or Europe) | €3,000–€8,000 | Same Annex II, 2-4 weeks per origin |
| Enterprise compliance platform | €12,000–€30,000/year | Yearly subscription, multi-origin |
| Rainforest Alliance / Fairtrade / Organic | Certification fees | Complementary evidence only (Art. 10.2.m) |
| EUDRCheck | €299 | 28-page dossier + TRACES NT JSON, 15 min, browser-side |
Exporting multiple lots per harvest to European buyers? Volume pricing available.
Sierra Leonen cooperatives exporting multiple lots to different European buyers need volume DDS capacity. EUDRCheck offers pack pricing from 10 dossiers. One dossier per lot. Email hello@solidwaretools.com with your estimated annual volume.
Request Volume PricingOne-business-day response · No sales call
What EUDRCheck guarantees and what it doesn't
EUDRCheck generates a document structured under Article 4 and Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650) based on the information you enter. The truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of that information is your responsibility as operator under Article 4.2.
We guarantee that the document structure follows Article 4 and Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 and that the legal references cited are correct as of the latest verification date. We do not guarantee that a specific document will be accepted by any competent authority in a specific case.
EUDRCheck is not legal advice. For specific situations, consult a lawyer or specialised regulatory consultancy.
Frequently asked questions — Sierra Leonen cocoa cooperatives
My cooperative exports to multiple European buyers. Do they each need a separate DDS?
Yes. Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 requires a separate Due Diligence Statement for each consignment. Each European buyer who places your cocoa on the EU market must file their own DDS in TRACES NT. EUDRCheck generates each dossier independently for €299 per lot. Volume pricing is available from 10 dossiers.
My supplier has Rainforest Alliance or Fairtrade certification. Does that replace the DDS?
No. Article 10.2(m) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 explicitly classifies voluntary certifications — including Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, UTZ and organic — as complementary evidence for the risk assessment, not as a substitute for the Due Diligence Statement. The full DDS under Article 4 and Annex II is always required regardless of certifications held by the supplier.
Who is responsible for filing the DDS: my cooperative or the European buyer?
The European buyer. Under Article 2(15) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, the operator is the natural or legal person who places the product on the EU market for the first time. The operator is the European importer. But they need your data: geolocation, harvest dates, supply chain details. You provide the data. They file. EUDRCheck produces the structured data package they need.
My members farm small plots of 0.2-2 hectares. How do I collect GPS coordinates for all of them?
Article 2(28) and Annex II point 4 require plot-level geolocation in WGS-84 with minimum 6 decimal places. Without this data, you cannot file a valid DDS. EUDRCheck includes a built-in coordinate generator that helps your supplier produce compliant GeoJSON from GPS data, Google Maps pins, or KML files. Points for plots under 4 hectares, polygons for 4 hectares or more.
Does EUDRCheck handle my data securely?
All processing happens 100% in your browser. No supplier data, no GPS coordinates, no trade volumes, no company details are transmitted to any server. The dossier is generated on your device and the ZIP file you download stays on your computer. This is GDPR-native by design, not by declaration.
Is EUDRCheck legal advice?
No. EUDRCheck is a documentation structuring tool that organises your data into the format required by Article 4 and Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115. It is not a law firm, not a consultancy, and not a third-party audit. For specific legal situations, consult a lawyer or specialised regulatory consultancy.
Is there a subscription?
No. EUDRCheck is a one-time payment of €299 per dossier. No monthly fees, no auto-renewals, no commitment. You generate the dossier, download the ZIP, and the documents are yours permanently.
What if the regulation changes after I generate my dossier?
EUDRCheck is maintained and updated whenever the regulation or its implementing acts are amended. Our regulatory monitoring team verifies the tool weekly against EUR-Lex. The dossier you generated remains valid as of its generation date. If a material change occurs, we publish an advisory and update the tool.
⚠️ Important notice: EUDRCheck is a self-assessment documentation tool, not legal advice and not a third-party audit. The document under Article 4 and Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 is generated from your input data. You are responsible for the accuracy of the data you provide. EUDRCheck does not replace a qualified professional assessment and does not provide the EU Responsible Person service.
The obligation is yours. The dossier takes 15 minutes. Generate it now.
Eight documents. Annex II fully structured. Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 in its current wording including Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 amendment of 23 December 2025. TRACES NT JSON included. Your data stays on your device. The ZIP you download is yours forever.
€299 one-time
28-page professional dossier · 15 minutes · No subscription · Browser-side
Generate the DDS — €299