Importers of Latvian timber are being urged to contact their suppliers after the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) suspended FSC certification of Latvian forests.
The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) is advising members to establish their supply situation as the suspension takes effect on July 17.
Major corrective actions were requested by FSC after the latest audit of the Latvia State Forests.
Issues centre on an apparent lack of regulation and control of sub-contractors carrying out logging operations.
“We understand that high level meetings between interested parties, including exporter associations, are taking place at present to try and resolve this issue but as it stands, after July 17, logs from Latvia’s state-owned forests will not be FSC-certified,” said Rachel Butler, TTF head of sustainability.
She said the TTF has not yet been able to establish what Latvia will now do, but said Latvian FSC-certified timber was still available for the short term.
