Summary
Details
- European Union
- Global
Any company or actor in the supply chain of forest-risk commodities can apply for GDFI Certification, regardless of size or location.
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Overview
GDFI Certification is a voluntary, third-party certification system that verifies that commodities and products are deforestation-free and legally produced across the supply chain. It was developed by the Global Deforestation-Free Initiative (GDFI) to provide a structured, auditable alternative to self-declaration under emerging regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The certification is based on four integrated standards covering sourcing (DFL), traceability (Chain of Custody), trademark use, and audit procedures. Together, these define requirements for due diligence, supply chain mapping, and independent verification. A key feature is the 100% compliance requirement: all products within the certification scope must be deforestation-free and legally produced. Partial claims, mass-balance approaches, and percentage-based systems are not permitted.
Assessment and reporting
GDFI Certification requires companies to implement a due diligence system and demonstrate compliance through documented evidence and third-party audits. Core requirements include:
Supply chain mapping and traceability - Companies must map their supply chains from production plots to final sale and maintain traceability linking products to geolocated origin.
Due diligence process - This includes information collection, risk assessment, and risk mitigation. Products can only be traded where the risk of non-compliance is negligible.
Documentation and record-keeping - All supporting data—such as geolocation, supplier information, and risk assessments—must be retained for at least five years.
Annual public reporting - Companies must publish a Due Diligence System report covering supply chain structure, risk assessment results, mitigation measures, and remaining risks.
Compliance is verified through an audit process combining internal review, independent external audit, and ongoing surveillance. Certificates are valid for three years, subject to annual audits. Non-compliance with GDFI certification requirements may lead to corrective actions, and in serious cases, suspension or withdrawal of the certificate following audit findings.
Current status
GDFI Certification is an operational voluntary certification framework, with the current version of its standards (Version 3) last updated in December 2025. The framework has been developed in parallel with ongoing changes to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which has experienced multiple delays and revisions to its implementation timeline. GDFI positions its certification as a mechanism to provide market assurance during this transition period, allowing companies to demonstrate compliance with deforestation-free and legality requirements ahead of full regulatory enforcement.
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