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MEP’s green light ban on illegal timber – Law aims to reduce deforestation Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 14:54 Hrs The European Parliament approved on 7 July the agreement reached with the Council on the EU legislation to ban the sale of illegally-harvested timber. The new law is a step towards ensuring that illegally harvested timber and wood products cannot be sold on the EU market.  EMCEF and CEPI, Confederation of European Paper Industry, expressed their common views prior to the vote in the Parliament. The social partners approved a joint position on the draft Regulation “laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the EU market”. This position paper is one achievement of the new Social Dialogue in the paper sector.The new legislation, along with traceability measures and sanctions, bans illegally-harvested timber or timber products from being placed on the EU market. This will prevent such wood from effectively being laundered once it reaches the EU. Currently, at least 20% of timber and timber products reaching the EU market is estimated to come from illegal sources. The new law aims to reduce illegal deforestation. The agreement reached in June with Council, after years of debate, covers raw timber and wood products like furniture and floorboards. But it exempts printed materials such as books and newspapers for at least five years. The EMCEF and CEPI urged ia that the new regulation should cover all timber and timber products, including printed products, in order to avoid circumvention and secure a level playing field. Council will approve the agreement with Parliament this autumn. The new regulation is scheduled to enter into force in late 2012 to allow timber operators time to adapt. Further information: Position paper of EMCEF and CEPI “How to improve on the draft Regulation laying down the obligations of operators placing timber and timber on the market” European Parliament [link], [link]
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