The timber industry has urged the government to ensure its timber procurement policy is widely and consistently implemented throughout all tiers of authority.
The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) made the plea in its submission to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) sustainable timber inquiry.
Two years ago an EAC inquiry slammed the government’s timber buying policy, concluding there had been “an abject failure to deliver on the promises made”.
The submission, supported by the British Woodworking Federation, ConFor, Trussed Rafter Association, UK Timber Frame Association and wood. for good, says government contracts often fail to comply with procurement policies, sometimes specifying Forest Stewardship Council timber only or making no references to legal and sustainable timber.
Industry recommendations include a communication/training campaign within government and the reporting and auditing of government timber purchases.
The submission praises CPET for making a huge contribution to sustainable forest management, effectively providing a framework for mutual acceptance of different certification schemes, if not mutual recognition.
But it suggests CPET should be used to encourage development of a common chain of custody standard, as well as determining what constitutes legal timber in the absence of sustainable wood.
The submission also says CPET could play a valuable role in helping to communicate the need for timber users to pay for legal and sustainable timber.
The EAC’s sub-committee conducting the inquiry expects to take oral evidence during October.
