Some American timber traders are licking their lips in anticipation of the first US company being dragged to the dock and charged with handling illegal wood.
Earlier this year an amendment to the US Lacey Act extended its remit from animal products to timber, making it an offence to import material judged illegal in the country of origin. Anyone found guilty could face a hefty fine, even jail.
The move had strong support in the US trade, particularly the hardwood sector, which said getting behind the measure underlined its determination to drive illegal timber out of the international market. When the first prosecution hits the headlines, the Lacey Act’s industry backers say it will further stress their zero tolerance stance on the issue to an increasingly environmentally concerned consumer.
There have been calls this side of the Atlantic, both in and outside the trade, for a European version of Lacey. These include Barry Gardiner MP who tabled a private member’s bill to that end earlier this year.
But last week the European Commission took another tack. It proposed legislation making it compulsory for timber traders in member states to show “due diligence” in ensuring their imports are legally sourced. Predictably, the NGOs condemned this approach before the ink had dried on the proposal documents, dismissing it as toothless.
In fact, the new rules will have bite, with each EU country free to impose their own penalties for any breach. The consensus is that these are unlikely to stretch to jail, but will amount to more than a slap on the wrist.
In the UK, the due diligence approach to avoiding illegal timber is already established – it is, for instance, the basis of The Timber Trade Federation’s Responsible Purchasing Policy. The EU measure should spread acceptance of the practice and, if this is sufficiently publicised, like the Lacey Act in the US, it should enhance the trade’s environmental image in the market place.
