EURO-MPS AXE ILLEGAL TIMBER TRADE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 12th Jul 2010

MEPs have taken an axe to the illegal logging trade this week by banning the sale of illegal timber in Europe and setting up strict penalties for rogue traders.

Illegal tree-felling is estimated to represent 20-40% of global industrial wood production, and contributes heavily to carbon emissions and the destruction of biodiversity. The WWF estimates that around €3bn of illegal timber from places like the Congo Basin and Indonesia reaches the EU each year. Together, the EU's 27 Member States account for 20% of world-wide illegal timber imports.

The new rules impose strict fines for those caught first placing illegal timber on the European market and establishes traceability through the whole supply chain.

Fiona, who has campaigned for six years to ban the import of illegal timber, said:

"Illegal logging causes environmental, economic and human devastation right across the world.

"The illegal timber trade depresses prices by up to 16%. This action will also support responsible timber producers who employ sustainable and legal methods.

"The EU has taken an important step in cutting the illegal timber trade down to size. We must now ensure that Member States enforce this ban properly."

North East timber wholesalers have been warned that they will have to secure proof that the wood they buy has come from legally managed sources or face the risk of prosecution. A number of major retailers have already pledged to only sell wooden products from legally-sourced timber.

Note to editors:

Ban on illegally-sourced timber

The new legislation bans illegally-harvested timber or timber products from being placed on the EU market. This will prevent such wood from effectively being laundered once it reaches the EU. Currently, at least 20% of timber and timber products reaching the EU market is estimated to come from illegal sources.

Sanctions and traceability

Member States will be responsible for applying sanctions to operators who break the rules. The legislation sets out guidelines for imposing fines: the environmental damage caused, the value of the timber and lost tax revenue can all be taken into consideration. EU countries can also impose criminal-law penalties on unscrupulous dealers. To ensure traceability, each operator along the supply chain will need to declare from whom they bought timber and to whom they sold it.

Climate protection

Illegal deforestation has devastating effects. On a global level, deforestation as a whole is estimated to contribute 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. Where it occurs, soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and landslides are all potential problems. The plunder of this natural resource also hits forest-dependent peoples and the economies of developing countries.

Next steps

The EU Council has already informally agreed with the terms of this draft legislation but will need to rubber stamp it before it can pass into law. The rules are expected to take effect in late 2012 to allow timber operators time to adapt.