UNEP-WCMC informs on illegality risks from five timber source countries

The UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has released the first five in a series of country overviews that aim to aid the implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). These overviews, which are available for Brazil, China, Myanmar, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, are produced for the European Commission.

Study quantifies enforcement of EU Timber Regulation

A study for the European Commission summarises the checks that Competent Authorities in Europe have performed to verify compliance with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), as well as any enforcement actions taken.

UK operator fined for failing to exercise due diligence when importing timber

British timber operator Hardwood Dimensions (Holdings) Ltd has been fined for breaching regulations prohibiting the import and sale of illegally harvested timber. Hardwood Dimensions failed to check the legality of a batch of timber from Cameroon when placing it on the market, breaching regulations requiring businesses trading in timber and timber products in the UK to ensure that their products originate from legal sources.

UNEP-WCMC Releases November 2017 – January 2018 Briefing Note

The UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has released a briefing note on developments relevant to the implementation and enforcement of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). The note, which covers the period November 2017 to January 2018, has been developed by UNEP-WCMC as a consultant of the European Commission in close cooperation with the competent authorities of the European Union Member States implementing the EUTR.

Responsible Timber Trade Fair in Ghana, a unique international event

BVRio is organizing the first international timber trade fair dedicated to promoting the trade of 100% legal and certified timber. The Responsible Timber Trade Fair will connect buyers and sellers of legal and certified timber products, focusing on West African timber. The event will be held in Accra, Ghana, 28 February – 2 March 2018.

Save the date! ‘Sourcing Legal Timber 2.0’ conference — 15 March 2018

Nearly five years have passed since the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into force and things are looking quite different to how they did then. Authorities are increasing their enforcement activities all over Europe, a lot of new information and tools are available from all kinds of sources, and FLEGT-licensed timber is now available on the market.

World Wood-Based Panels Conference addresses timber legality

The legality of timber and timber products was a recurrent theme at the Fourth World Wood-Based Panels Conference that took place from 22-23 September 2017, in Linyi, China. The China National Forest Products Industry Association (CNFPIA) formally released China’s timber legality verification standard at the opening of the Conference. This voluntary standard sets out the requirements for timber legality for CNFPIA member companies.

Briefing compares Japan’s Clean Wood Act with the EU Timber Regulation

The EU FLEGT Facility has published a briefing that compares two regulatory approaches that aim to prevent trade in illegally-harvested timber and timber products: Japan’s Clean Wood Act and the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).

New briefing introduces the Chinese Timber Legality Verification System

The EU FLEGT Facility has published a briefing on the Chinese Timber Legality Verification System (CTLVS) and associated policies that China is developing to combat illegal logging and trade in illegal timber.

Lessons and inspiration from Indonesia’s FLEGT experience

Indonesia was not the only one to celebrate its FLEGT licensing launch last year. Other tropical timber exporters engaged in the FLEGT VPA process en route to licensing welcomed the news too. They see Indonesia’s success not just as inspirational, but providing lessons from which they can learn. Mike Jeffree reports