END TO ILLEGAL TIMBER IMPORTS IN SIGHT (Fiona Hall MEP)

Fiona Hall MEP <info@fionahall.org.uk>

END TO ILLEGAL TIMBER IMPORTS IN SIGHT

May 5, 2009 12:00 AM

timber After five years of debate, a deal may finally be in sight to stop imports of illegally harvested wood being sold in the EU and gaining the support of major industry operators such as Focus DIY and B&Q.

The European Parliament has voted to strengthen proposals from the European Commission which would see operators being made responsible for making sure their imported furniture, paper and timber products come from legal forest sources. The report also calls for financial penalties for operators who don't comply with the regulation.

In an industry statement, industry operators support clear guidelines on tackling the risk of importing illegally logged timber and timber products, and sanctions for those operators who illegally acquire such products. Their statement claims that cheap imports of illegal timber create unfair competition, harming those European companies, especially small and medium sized businesses, who do behave responsibly.

Lib Dem North East Euro -MP Fiona Hall said:

"For over five years, MEPs have been calling for an EU law on illegal timber. I am pleased that the European Parliament has finally been able to strengthen the European Commission's proposals and make sure that only legally harvested timber is available to buy in the EU.

"Illegal logging devastates biodiversity, contributes to deforestation and climate change and destroys the habitat of indigenous forest communities. It also robs governments of income, with the Indonesian government estimating that lost forest revenue costs the nation up to US$4 billion a year, or five times their annual health budget.

"The Agriculture ministers of the 27 EU Member States are due to meet in June to discuss the proposed legislation and the Parliament's report. I hope they will support the stronger position that MEPs have pushed for.

"The EU is responsible for an estimated 16-19% of global illegal timber imports, that is why it is so important that we get a deal that can be implemented immediately. 61% of people in the UK think it is important that wood products sold in Europe are legally harvested and traded. European legislation against illegal logging is where the EU can really use its economic weight to make a difference."