India Agri Exporters EUDR FSMA 204: What You Need to Do Now

The timelines for EU and U.S. traceability have shifted, but buyer requirements remain unchanged. India agri exporters EUDR FSMA 204 compliance is now critical — this is the ideal window to implement geolocation, chain-of-custody, and FSMA 204 recordkeeping before audits tighten.

Carriers and buyers are already following EUDR workflows, meaning consignments with complete traceability data will secure priority processing and face fewer pre-shipment queries.

What Changed for Exporters

• European Commission: Announced an additional one-year EUDR delay linked to IT readiness, without relaxing consignment-level geodata or due-diligence obligations.
• FDA (U.S.): Proposed extending FSMA 204 compliance to July 20, 2028, while retaining all requirements, including:
  • KDE/CTE capture
  • Traceability lot codes
  • Written traceability plans
  • 24-hour record response for Food Traceability List (FTL) items

EUDR: What Buyers Will Request

• Plot geolocations for upstream farms tied to consignments
• Proof of legality and deforestation-free attestations for covered commodities and derived goods
• Due-diligence packs detailing:
  • Supply-base mapping depth
  • Risk or satellite verification checks
  • Chain-of-custody controls to prevent mixing

FSMA 204: What to Implement Now

• Capture Key Data Elements (KDEs) at receiving, creation/transformation, and shipping
• Assign traceability lot codes
• Maintain a written traceability plan
• Conduct 24-hour retrieval drills regularly

Standardization tips:

• Align lot coding, timestamps, product descriptors, and quantities across suppliers and first receivers.
• Ensure clean linkages during mock recalls to reduce audit friction.

How Trace AgTech Helps India Agri Exporters EUDR FSMA 204

1. Plot Geotagging and Perimeter Mapping

Trace captures field boundaries and coordinates, linking crops and seasons to farmer IDs, and structures geodata for EUDR due-diligence kits.

2. Chain-of-Custody and Lot Segregation

Configurable intake-to-dispatch workflows maintain lot integrity, prevent mixing, and generate audit-ready movement logs.

3. KDE/CTE Templates and Trace Plans

• Lot code schema support
• Written plan scaffolds
• 24-hour response exports aligned with FSMA 204

4. Offline-First Mobile Capture

Farmer and field-staff apps digitize diaries, inputs, inspections, and intake events even in low-connectivity environments across dispersed supplier bases.

5. Exporter Dashboards and Dossier Generation

Automated EU due-diligence packs with geodata and risk screens, plus FSMA 204 spreadsheets and trace files for buyer and regulator requests.

90-Day Exporter Action Plan

1. Map Supply Bases

• Complete farm-plot geotagging for EU-bound commodities
• Prioritize top-volume suppliers
• Collect land-use attestations to pre-qualify lots for 2026 bookings

2. Strengthen Chain of Custody Controls

• Implement intake to dispatch lot integrity
• Validate intake logs and enforce non-mixing SOPs
• Align with common buyer audit checklists

3. Build FSMA Readiness

• Deploy KDE/CTE templates and assign data owners
• Schedule quarterly 24-hour trace drills with U.S. buyers
• Validate responsiveness ahead of the 2028 compliance date

Coffee and Plantation Crops Focus

EUDR scrutiny will be highest for coffee and plantation crops. Use the current window to:

• Finalize plot mapping and supplier onboarding
• Standardize consignment file structures to minimize pre-shipment rework

Label “mapped, cleared” farm lots, retain evidence archives, and update procurement contracts with geodata and audit-cooperation clauses to ease EU approvals.

Commercial Upside for Early Movers

• Gain priority with buyers maintaining strict traceability programs
• Reduce investigation risk
• Accelerate clearances for FTL categories
• Secure preferred-supplier status and stronger contract terms

Implementation Checklist

Geodata Coverage

• % of EU-bound suppliers with validated plot coordinates and land-use evidence, risk-tagged per lot in Trace.

Due-Diligence Packs

• Consignment-level supplier list, geo-proof, risk screen, and chain-of-custody ledger entries generated via Trace dashboards.

FSMA Artifacts

• Written traceability plan
• Lot code schema
• KDE/CTE data dictionary
• Two consecutive successful 24-hour drills using Trace exports

Conclusion

India agri exporters EUDR FSMA 204 compliance is no longer optional, it’s a strategic imperative for securing EU and U.S. market access. Implementing geolocation, chain of custody, and FSMA 204 recordkeeping now ensures faster clearances, lower audit friction, and prioritized consignments.

By leveraging Trace AgTech’s platform for plot geotagging, lot management, KDE/CTE capture, and automated dossier generation, exporters can build verifiable, audit-ready supply chains. Early adoption strengthens compliance, minimizes pre-shipment queries, and positions exporters as trusted partners for global buyers.

To experience smarter export traceability and compliance workflows, schedule a demo now.