Malaysian code of conduct mooted

Malaysian timber businesses should give their support to introducing a code of conduct in response to increasing awareness of sustainability issues among global consumers, according to the International Tropical Timber Organisation’s latest market report.

The country’s minister of plantation and commodities suggested the timber sector could follow the example of the palm oil and mining industries, as well as those of foreign timber associations.

A code could address issues such as illegally harvested timber, deforestation, forest conservation and native land rights.

Some 4.65 million ha of natural forest has been certified under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme, while 173,000ha of natural forest and 31,000ha of forest plantations have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

The US Lacey Act amendment, which bans the import of illegally harvested wood into the US, has been of particular concern to Malaysia.