TTF makes responsible sourcing systems mandatory

The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has made it obligatory for all members to introduce a due diligence risk assessment system to ensure they are not handling illegal timber.

The new rule, added to the TTF Environmental Code of Practice, was voted through unanimously at its AGM this week.

The move follows several years of deliberation over making the TTF’s own illegal timber risk assessment system, the Responsible Purchasing Policy (RPP), mandatory.

Under the new code of practice rule, members will be able to use the RPP as their environmental due diligence system or they can put forward their own alternative.

Other schemes will have to be approved by The Federation’s Forests Forever committee. They will have to involve screening of all suppliers and suppliers’ products for risk of illegality.

Members will also have to publish a statement committing them to source legal and/or sustainable wood and publish an annual report on the findings of their risk assessment programme.

When all TTF companies renew their membership in January they will have to officially sign up to the new rule and the first assessment of the implementation of risk assessment systems will take place at the start of 2010.

Outgoing TTF president Neil Domaldson welcomed the rule change.

“Put simply, I do not want to be part of an organisation whose members don’t act responsibly,” he said.

“This change to the Environmental Code of Practice encourages members to get off the fence and do the right thing and prove they do the right thing. We just want to ensure members are sourcing their products from legal and, ultimately, sustainable sources.”

TTF chief executive John White said the move had improved timber’s marketability as it provided customers with assurance on legality.