Use mitigation measures in a risk assessment
Overview
Defined measures are put to work inside a risk assessment. When a criterion is rated above low in Step 2, you apply a mitigation measure to it, which is what allows the criterion, and eventually the overall risk, to be brought down to low.
🟢 Why this matters. Applying mitigation until the residual risk is negligible is the precondition for submitting a Due Diligence Statement. This is where the measures you defined actually reduce risk. See the consolidated EUDR text.
Before you start
- You are in Step 2 of a risk assessment, on a criterion rated medium or high (see Step 2 — Conduct the assessment analysis).
- Ideally, the relevant measures are already defined (see Define measures for a risk criterion), though you can add them as you go.
Step by step
- In the assessment analysis, find the criterion you need to reduce.
- Select Add Mitigation Measures on that criterion.
- Choose one or more of the measures defined for that criterion (recommended or custom), and attach any evidence.
- Apply them. With adequate mitigation and evidence, the criterion can move to Low.
- Repeat for every criterion above low. When all are low, the overall risk is low and you can submit the Due Diligence Statement.
The two ways to reduce a criterion
Applying a mitigation measure is one of the two ways to lower a criterion. The other is to collect further evidence from the supplier (see Step 1 and Step 2). Often you combine them: a measure that requires the supplier to provide an audit, plus the audit document itself.
Tips
- Reuse a measure across the many pairs that share a criterion, rather than re-writing it each time.
- Keep the evidence attached to the measure current; expired documents weaken the mitigation.
Troubleshooting
- The criterion will not drop to low. The mitigation may be insufficient or lack evidence. Strengthen the measure or add supporting documentation.
ℹ️ Regulatory context. Mitigation under Article 11 must reduce the risk to negligible before the product is placed on the market. See the consolidated EUDR text.