ITC Sylva AI Platform Supports EUDR Timber Compliance

New Tool for EU Deforestation Regulation

The International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations, has introduced Sylva, an AI-assisted platform.

This new tool is an upgrade to its existing Deforestation-Free Trade Gateway and aims to assist businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and smallholders, in complying with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The EUDR, which mandates due diligence for specific commodities, is set to take effect on 30 December 2026.

It covers wood and wood-derived products, alongside six other commodities: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, and soya. The platform was presented at the “Cafe EUDR: De la normativa al mercado” event, co-hosted by ITC and the Spanish Coffee Association (AECafe).

Streamlining Traceability and Risk Assessment

Sylva is designed to simplify the complex process of demonstrating compliance with sustainability requirements. The platform enables users to organize geolocation data, assess deforestation risks associated with production plots, and share necessary information with supply chain partners.

Key features include an AI chatbot tailored to user profiles and a redesigned interface, all intended to help businesses prove their products do not originate from deforested or degraded land. Available in four languages—English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese—Sylva supports users in registering production plots, managing data, and identifying risks. The continued development of the platform receives support from the Spanish government.

Reducing Data Duplication for Small Businesses

One of Sylva’s primary goals is to reduce data duplication and administrative burden for businesses. While various tools exist for tracking products and collecting geolocation data, compiling comprehensive information for regulatory compliance can be challenging due to fragmented data across multiple systems.

Sylva addresses this by allowing users to organize and reuse information from different sources across the supply chain, all while maintaining control over their data. The platform can integrate with existing national systems, traceability solutions, and forest-data services, minimizing repetitive data entry.

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton emphasized that Sylva makes digital traceability and due diligence more accessible, ensuring small producers can maintain or gain market access.

Implications for Asian Wood Exporters

Asian manufacturers and suppliers of wood and wood-derived products targeting the EU market must prepare for the EUDR deadline of 30 December 2026. Compliance requires meticulous due diligence, including verifying product origins and ensuring they are deforestation-free.

Tools like Sylva offer a practical solution for Asian exporters to manage their supply chain data, assess risks, and generate the necessary statements for EU market access.

Businesses should evaluate their current traceability systems and consider adopting platforms that streamline the collection and sharing of geolocation and deforestation risk data to avoid potential trade disruptions. Proactive adoption of such compliance tools can help maintain competitive advantage in the European market.