Greenpeace marked the first anniversary of the introduction of the legislation, which has criminalised the import of illegal timber, by highlighting several cases which it says show much work is needed to ensure proper enforcement of the EUTR.
"The EU Timber Regulation was a welcome new legislation last March, but the first year of its mandate has demonstrated that governments and Competent Authorities really have to step up and ensure that proper enforcement of the law is possible," said Danielle Van Oijen, Greenpeace Netherlands forest campaigner.
The group called on governments to make enforcement a priority and significantly increase resources in the area.
Greenpeace highlighted three cases in the last 12 months, including a batch of afromosia from the Democratic Republic of Congo being placed on the EU market despite, it says, authorities being unable to prove the legality of the wood.
The other cases involved a shipment of wengé logs, which ended up in the Czech Republic and Germany despite authorities at the importing port of Antwerp questioning its legitimacy, as well as a batch of suspected illegal timber at the port of Caen in January.