Croatia oak log export ban discussed at EOS general assembly

The Croatian government’s two-year ban on the export of oak logs is due to a bark beetle infestation in 14 Croatian counties. Regulations on limited log transport have been introduced to prevent spreading of the harmful organism (Corythucha arcuata), and it is expected to last for the next two years.

Any transfer of wood which has completely or partially retained its natural surface (with or without bark) and plant material is restricted.

“The discussion offered the opportunity to stress, one more time that the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) and its members condemn any practice aiming at creating an uneven playing field and distorting the competition in the internal market,” the EOS said.

EOS delegates also analysed recent developments related to the revision of the Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work – specifically the new threshold limit for hardwood dust.

The EOS said different exposure limits at the national level were accompanied by different testing method and calculations all over Europe, which means results in one member state could not be comparable with the one in a different member state.

“Prior to any discussion on threshold limits, uniform way of calculations and testing methods should be adopted at European level,” it said.

Nevertheless, EOS said the new threshold limit proposed by the European Commission of 3 mg/m3 was a safe and adequate value for the protection of workers.

But any further reduction would be a major concern for EOS member companies as it would require changes in manufacturing processes.

Elsewhere at the general assembly, delegates heard that sawn softwood production across European countries was rising at a moderate but steady pace, with growth driven mainly by buoyant export markets, particularly Asia. Sawn hardwood production is overall stable in spite of raw material availability challenges, particularly in large producer countries.

Sampsa Auvinen, CEO of Norvik Timber Industries, has been re-elected as president of EOS for his second term, while Ernest Schilliger (Schilliger Holz) and Joël Lefebvre (Groupe Lefebvre) are both re-confirmed as vice-presidents respectively for softwood and for hardwood.