DRC logging chaos makes EUTR compliance “impossible”
7 March 2013“Chaos” in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s logging sector means it is nearly impossible for EU traders sourcing timber from the country to comply with the newly-introduced EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), says a new Greenpeace report.
The “Cut it Out: Illegal Logging in the DRC” report released by Greenpeace Africa says the situation in the country threatens to cut off timber trading with the EU.
“The state of the sector in the DRC and the lack of independent systems there to verify legality mean it is extremely difficult under current circumstances, if not impossible, for traders based in the EU and dealing in timber from the DRC to comply with the legislation,” says the report.
It warned that if European importers dealing with DRC continued a “business as usual” approach they would be found out through the EUTR.
Greenpeace is calling on the DRC government to reinforce the existing logging moratorium and cancel all existing illegal permits, prosecute infringements, publish all logging contracts and strengthen anti-corruption measures.
