EU Timber Reg up for review and government wants your views on how to improve it

The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) is being reviewed by the European Commission in 2015.

The regulation has been in place since March 3rd 2013 and has made it illegal to place illegally harvested timber and timber products on the EU market. It affects those that first place timber on the EU market as well as traders further down the supply chain.

The government has asked BWF for a response as part of its duty reflect the concerns of UK stakeholders. This is because the review allows EU Member States to provide suggestions for changes to the EUTR in order to improve its effectiveness in tackling the trade in illegal timber. The goverment department Defra would be happy to discuss the issues with BWF members by phone or in person if it is convenient to do so. BWF members wishing to respond through the federation can call Matt Mahony on 0844 209 2610 or send their views through e-mail by 4 February in order to allow us to provide a response in time for the government’s deadline of 13 February. The short timeline is because formal contributions by EU Member States need to be submitted by 30 April 2015.

Defra would be interested in your views and suggestions on any aspect of the regulation, including, but not limited to, the three issues outlined here:

– The scope of the EUTR

– The lack of a misdescription offence in the EUTR

BWF members should consider where they feel that the regulation is being exploited, misunderstood or undermined.

Defra are aware that the consistent application of the EUTR across the EU remains a serious concern. Alongside the review process they will press for consistent application of the EUTR across all EU Member States. Recently the Commission has initiated pilot projects to assess potential infringement proceedings against non-compliant Member States.

The Commission must complete the review by 5 December 2015. Non-Government stakeholders will also be able to respond directly to the Commission with their views on the review in Autumn 2015.

If you require advice on the EU Timber Regulation, for example if you are unsure of the requirements for your business or want to discuss any further issues, the BWF has guidance available on its website (including a template due-diligence system) and members can also access the member helpline by ringing 0844 209 2619.