B&Q and Homebase have joined environmental groups in calling on the EU to introduce legislation banning imports of illegally sourced timber.

The companies, along with more than 70 other firms including IKEA and Habitat, signed a statement promoted by FERN, Greenpeace and WWF, which was presented at a conference on illegal logging, governance and trade at the European Parliament.

The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has backed the statement, which calls for clear rules in Europe for fair competition and sustainable markets.

TTF chief executive John White said: “Cheap imports of illegal timber and the non-compliance of some firms with basic environmental standards destabilise international markets, threaten jobs and create unfair competition.

“Without a clear European legal framework, companies that behave responsibly and want to invest in sustainable practices will always be disadvantaged.”

&#8220Cheap imports of illegal timber and the non-compliance of some firms with basic environmental standards destabilise international markets, threaten jobs and create unfair competition”

TTF chief executive John White

UK timber companies which signed the statement include Finnforest, Travis Perkins and Timbmet. Other backers are Swedish construction company Skansa, Unital (Union of Italian Industries of Wood Furniture) and Spain’s Puertas Luvipol.

MEPs Fiona Hall and Chris Davies intend to demand the EC delivers a report on legislative options to tackle illegal logging which it promised for mid-2004.

WWF estimates that about 10% of the UK’s imports of timber, pulp and paper come from illegally-logged forests.

Greenpeace, WWF and FERN say industry and NGOs agree that the EC’s Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade could have a positive impact, but that a voluntary approach alone is insufficient to tackle the problem.