Questions raised about EC illegal timber plans

The European Commission’s recent proposals to stop illegal timber entering the EU leaves a number of unanswered questions, according to the European Timber Trade Association (FEBO).

FEBO welcomed the proposals but asked a number of questions at a recent parliamentary evening it organised in Brussels attended by representatives from the commission, European Parliament, sector federations and businesses.

Dr Rudolf Luers, CEO of the German Timber Trade Federation who represented FEBO at the event, said the European timber trade would face the commission’s proposals with responsibility.

The proposals require timber traders to exercise due diligence to ensure they are not handling illegally felled material.

But he said the harmonisation of a due diligence system was unclear, as were the costs which businesses will face.

Dr Luers also asked whether timber trade federations could play a role as monitoring organisations and whether different timber products would be treated differently and what role might sustainability certificates play in risk evaluation.

FEBO is made up of 14 associations from 13 countries, representing 3,130 companies across the timber supply chain with a volume of trade worth €2.82bn.