The Initiative Online Print, an organisation representing online trade printers mostly from the German speaking countries of Europe, has released a data interchange format to make EUDR compliance easier.
EUDR-X has now been endorsed by Intergraf and is the subject of a webinar next week (September 8). The idea is to make the necessary compliance, transparency and traceability data easy to use and provide while not imposing burdens on the industry. With online printers specialising in both small jobs with a high degree of automation and digitisation, a digital means of recording compliance from the paper supplier to end user was considered essential.
The exchange will handle documentation of the Document Reference and Document Verification numbers needed as part of the Due Diligence Declaration (DDS) which is at the heart of EUDR.
The EUDR-X format is an open, licence-free data standard that is based on JSON and supports XML and to some extent CSV formats. It is thus straightforward to implement within an MIS or ERP system. Chairman of the Initiative of Online Print Bernd Zipper says: “The development shows what is possible when companies cooperate across industries. The IOP is not a closed society but a platform for knowledge transfer, innovation and joint action.”
While developed for online printers, the format would suit all types of printers operating within the EU, including those exporting into the EU that must also meet the requirements of the regulation. Intergraf has been close to the development of the exchange format nd has recognised the potential to apply the format more widely across the printing industry. It says that Integral “sees it as a further step in the implementation phase. It is particularly important that all actors of the chain work together to ensure a smooth transfer of data and increase interoperability”.
UK printers will have to comply with EUDR when their products are marketed and sold within the EU. While this will apply mostly to books, catalogues and some carton work will be affected.
This is the first version of the data exchange format and while focused on meeting the requirements of the EUDR, may become a standard for handling invoicing, couriers and other logistics issues in print.
