Companies found trading in illegal wood products could face financial penalties and seizure of timber under amendments to the EU‘s proposed legilsation to tackle illegal logging.
Members of the European Parliament’s environment committee recommended EU states introduce “criminal or administrative” penalties for offenders based on the degree of environmental damage, value of timber products, tax losses and economic damage caused by infringements.
The amendments, drafted by Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas and approved 54 votes to one, considerably tighten legislative proposals announced by the European Commission last year.
Action for companies “presumed” to have infringed requirements may include the immediate cessation of commercial activities and the seizure of timber. Other provisions added include the temporary prohibition of a company’s marketing activities and, where legal action is pending, the suspension of timber sourcing.
“Financial penalties shall represent at least five times the value of the timber products obtained by committing a serious infringement,” the committee said. “In case of a repeated serious infringement within a five-year period, the financial penalties shall gradually increase up to at least eight times the value.”
“The original measures proposed by the commission were too little, too late,” said Ms Lucas. “Independent monitoring and traceability requirements mean companies will have to give credible assurances on the origin of timber. A comprehensive and harmonised system of penalties will give real teeth to the legislation.”
The committee also insisted that all parts of the timber supply chain should be held responsible.
The proposals will go before the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers in April. To view the amendments click on the PDF on right.
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