Denmark initially implemented a procurement policy for tropical timber but Ms Hedegaards’ plan extends this to cover all wood, which has led the Danish Forest and Nature Agency to release draft criteria laying down plans to ensure all the timber brought into the country is from legal and sustainable sources.
All interested parties have until May 31 to return their comments on the draft criteria, which aim to further define the terms “legal” and “sustainable”, as well as look at current timber certification schemes that are in operation in Denmark.
“Just as was the case with the guidelines on the purchase of tropical timber, the guiding principle for the revision has been as far as possible to base the draft on an international consensus on the key concepts for sustainable forest management,” said Christian Henriksen, from the agency.
“[This will be designed to] accommodate a flexible approach, which takes into account various conditions and priorities for sustainable forest management in different countries and regions.”
