The Russian timber industry has been warned that it must ensure its timber its eco-certified and its packaging material is produced to the ISPM 15 standard if it is to succeed in the world market.

The message was spelled out by Pierre-Emmanuel van Hoorebeke of the Belgian company, van Hoorebeke Timber NV, at the 2nd International Timber Forum Forest and Man congress organised by the Union of Timber Manufacturers and Exporters of Russia in Moscow recently.

Mr van Hoorebeke said his company imports some 50 species from around the world but considers Russia to be the cornerstone of its business.

“We import and handle 120,000m3 of sawn softwood from Russia which represents around 50% of the total import of Russian timber into the Belgian market.”

&#8220We are now selling about 30,000m3 of softwood with FSC, PEFC, SFI and CSA certificates a year ”

Pierre-Emmanuel van Hoorebeke, van Hoorebeke Timber NV

He said the company needs to ensure it can provide customers with Russian timber year after year, but added that ISPM 15 – the international standards for phytosanitary measures entitled guidelines for regulation wood packaging material in international trade – has had an enormous impact on his company’s packaging customers, with the bigger companies having already installed ISPM 15 certified drying facilities.

He told delegates: “van Hoorebeke timber sells about 30,000m3 of Russian wood a year to the pallet manufacturing industries,” and urged Russian producers to adapt their timber packaging production to the ISPM 15 standard as quickly as possible.

He also emphasised the importance of eco-certified timber. “We are now selling about 30,000m3 of softwood with FSC, PEFC, SFI and CSA certificates,” he said, adding that all customers are very eco-conscious, partly because of government requirements and partly because of DIY market demands.