The European Timber Trade Association (FEBO) has welcomed the EU‘s action plan against illegal logging but it is concerned that legally-sourced wood may end up being discriminated against.
FEBO said the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade action plan was an ambitious proposal but it was unrealistic to expect results straight away.
It said the promotion of sustainable forestry management was not the same as combating illegal timber and that public procurement policies could create barriers for timber.
A FEBO spokesperson said: “Urgently a solution should be found for the mutual recognition among the different representative certificiation schemes available.”
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“A solution should urgently be found for mutual recognition among certification schemes” |
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FEBO spokesperson |
It criticised the proposal to expand voluntary licensing schemes, saying there were already better existing tools such as certified quality and environmental management systems.
FEBO said the action plan should be carried out carefully in order to avoid discrimination against legal wood, otherwise substitutes would benefit, including PVC, steel and concrete.
