Timber Trade Federation (TTF) members who have evidence of any contravention of the organisation’s Code of Conduct should “have the courage of their convictions in ensuring the matter is reported to the Trading Standards Office”. That was the message from David Francis, chairman of the National Panel Products Division speaking at its annual dinner at the Carlton Tower Hotel in London on November 9.
“Both the division and the TTF can help,” he continued, “but it is vital that our members ‘stand up and be counted’ if the policy is to have real teeth.”
The TTF’s Code of Practice is to undergo some amendments, partly in reponse to the advent of Chinese plywood into the market, said Mr Francis. Draft proposals will be placed before the annual general meeting in February, which will state that in future the country of origin will be clearly stated on all packs. The wording relating to glue bond and face qualities will also be amended.
Mr Francis also informed delegates that at a meeting between the TTF and Greenpeace, following the latter’s recent publication Partners in Crime, in which UK companies were implicated in alleged illegal logging, it became evident that “Greenpeace was not totally critical of Chinese plywood. They do not, for instance, have a problem with the use of poplar. Their concerns centre around the use of bintangor, which they allege is sourced from illegal logging operations in Papua New Guinea”.
A statement signed by both the TTF and Greenpeace is to be issued shortly which will clarify the situation.
