Peter Latham, deputy chairman of James Latham plc, made his comments prior to the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes’ (PEFC) London seminar to promote sustainable forest management, where he will be a speaker.

“PEFC accreditation ensures that timber originates from well-managed forests, and at James Latham we are committed to purchasing and promoting sustainable material whenever possible,” said Mr Latham.

“We are aware of our responsibility as a national timber importer to do what we can to buy legally sourced and certified wood, and we believe it is vital to make everyone in the timber industry aware of the importance of this issue.”

The PEFC seminar, aimed at ensuring UK companies understand the importance of chain of custody certification, will be held at the Thistle Hotel, Euston on June 13.