The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) wants to see the EUropean Commission’s proposed licensing scheme, aimed at banning illegal timber imports in the EU, adopted “as soon as practicably possible”.

The scheme, one of a number of measures drawn up to deliver the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Action Plan (TTJ August 7/14), is designed to crack down on the trade in illegally harvested timber.

The TTF said more work needs to be done with suppliers on tracking systems and auditing protocols in order to establish credible and effective controls at EU entry points.

And it said the UK timber trade wants to work closely with stakeholders to develop voluntary legality verification systems which are adaptable to each country’s conditions and that do not form a barrier to legitimate trade, or divert business to less discerning markets.

&#8220Most timber traded in the UK is legal and sustainable, but a small proportion comes from countries where illegal logging is a serious problem. The UK timber trade only wants to trade in legal timber and it recognises the need to control illegal timber imports”

TTF spokesperson

The TTF said: “Most timber traded in the UK is legal and sustainable, but a small proportion comes from countries where illegal logging is a serious problem. The UK timber trade only wants to trade in legal timber and it recognises the need to control illegal timber imports.”

It also called on other key markets and traders in the EU, US, Japan and China to join efforts to purchase only verified legal timber.