Defra has rejected criticism from Green MP Caroline Lucas that it isn’t doing enough to stop the supply of illegal timber in the UK.
Ms Lucas accused the government of reneging on promises to crack down on the trade in illegal timber. She said the coalition government’s commitment to introduce legislation banning the handling of illegal timber was not now going to happen, confirmed by forestry minister Jim Paice in a letter to her.
“The government must stick to its promise, there is no excuse to do otherwise,” she said.
A Defra spokesperson confirmed to TTJ that it would no longer seek a ban in the light of progress of European due diligence legislation designed to do the same.
“The due diligence legislation is due to be ratified by the European Council next month and all member states will have the power to introduce illegal logging laws if it comes into force,” he said.
Full due diligence requirements will be applied to operators who are the first to place timber on the market
The spokesperson said the regulation would not come into force until 2012.
“We have said publicly we are wanting to push for strict penalties [for traders involved in illegal timber importing] but we are not in a position to say what they are yet.”
Ms Lucas was instrumental in helping draft the EU legislative proposals through her former role as a European MEP.
“We couldn’t get agreement on a complete prohibition on all illegally imported timber in the supply chain, so we need UK legislation to close that loophole,” she said.
