Replay

EUDR update: Unpacking the grace period and the reduced burden for downstream operator

Meridia

21:40

What the EC proposal means for primary operators, brands/retailers, the role of substantiated concerns, and how to be submission-ready.

The Commission’s proposal may remove routine DDS submissions for many downstream actors, but primary operators still carry the core due diligence and DDS burden. In this 30-minute briefing, Meridia’s experts unpack the split responsibilities and the “substantiated concern” trigger.

Key topics

Primary operators: what stays on your plate (risk assessment, DDS, and evidence)
The “substantiated concern” clause: how it pulls everyone back into verification—even when DDS is waived downstream
What to do now: a practical, time-bound readiness plan for the application date

Agenda (30 min)

Context: the “take it or leave it” proposal & what changes by actor
Primary operators: risk assessment, DDS, and defensible evidence
Downstream/traders: recordkeeping, DDS reference tracking, and the substantiated concern trigger
How Meridia Verify operationalises risk assessment and mitigation to keep your data submission-ready

Speakers

Nicko Debenham

Sustainability Advisor at Sustainability Solutions

Nicko brings more than 38 years of experience working on cocoa and other raw material value chains. He started his career in cocoa in Nigeria in the 1980’s, working directly with cocoa farmers. Nicko possesses unique expertise in developing and introducing pioneering traceable and sustainable cocoa systems in collaboration with governments in origin countries.

In 2022 Nicko established Sustainability Solutions, a sustainability advisory business, to support in the establishment and implementation of sustainability strategies to create value for all stakeholders.