The delegation, including TTF chief executive John White, federation corporate social responsibility adviser Andy Roby and director of James Latham plc Peter Latham, were at the meeting to give oral evidence in the EAC‘s sustainable timber.

Mr White gave an overview of the UK timber industry and the TTF’s position on illegal logging, before the three men fielded questions on Greenpeace‘s recently-launched campaign against “illegal” Chinese plywood imports, the TTF’s Code of Conduct and the EU‘s FLEGT process.

&#8220This highlights the importance of a trade association in the timber industry. How else would the industry’s views be communicated?”

John White, Timber Trade Federation chief executive

Mr White said the delegation told EAC members that the issue over Chinese plywood centred on bitangor face veneers, not on the poplar core used. He said there were relatively few questions about government timber procurement – the main focus of the EAC inquiry.

He said: “This highlights the importance of a trade association in the timber industry. How else would the industry’s views be communicated?”
Others giving oral evidence at the hearing included Timbmet chief executive Simon Fineman, Forest Stewardship Council UK executive director Nick Cliffe and technical manager Richard Robertson, and a delegation from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification UK Ltd.