world news - 02.02.2009
European Union plan to hit illegal logging said unclear, costly
But
many worried about the probable rise in costs and red tape,
particularly for smaller timber operations, and several complained that
the proposed new rules were just too unclear. The proposals, drafted by the EU's executive Commission, would
oblige importers to check the legality of timber products, to prevent
shipments of wood that had been felled illegally. They would also apply
to domestically produced timber. EU countries are an important market for both legally and illegally
harvested timber -— the largest importers of plywood and sawnwood from
Africa, the second largest from Asia, and a key market for Russia. Much
of that wood is suspect. Environmental groups say Europe imports 1.2 billion euros ($1.58
billion) worth of illegally felled timber a year and the trade can lead
to more forest fires and poaching. Last year, the WWF estimated that nearly a fifth of the wood
imported into the European Union is felled illegally or comes from
suspect sources, mostly in Russia, Indonesia and China. Many of the ministers taking the floor at the monthly meeting
welcomed the EU plan for action against illegal logging but voiced
concern about the cost, red tape and enforceability. Sweden, the EU's single largest timber exporter with timber products
accounting for 11 percent of its export revenue, said the Commission
needed to do some more work. "Many parts of the regulation are unclear," Swedish Agriculture
Minister Eskil Erlandsson told the meeting. "The proposal and its
consequences require more in-depth scrutiny." "Good enforcement is essential if this proposal is to have any
teeth. As it stands now ... it is insufficiently clear. Nor is it clear
which activities should be regarded as breaches of the regulation,"
Dutch Agriculture Minister Gerda Verburg said. Several countries were concerned about the extra costs the scheme would impose on their timber industries and importers. Environment groups say the proposed rules are far too weak, and want
an outright EU ban on the import and sale of illegally logged products
-— not just new rules that aim to reduce risks. "EU member states must strengthen the Commission proposal if they
want to ban illegal timber from the EU market," said Sebastien Risso,
Greenpeace EU forest policy director. "Weak legislation will only favour companies that break the law. it
will drive responsible companies that source sustainable wood out of
business," he said in a statement.
See also:
- — Timber from Russian ship washes up on UK shores
- — Reduced timber felling in Norway in 2008
- — Making poplar popular
- — Storms create crisis for French forestry
- — Industry unites behind WoodMac China 2009, the largest and longest running woodworking technology trade event in the country