Ensure legality, urges TTF as log row hots up

As claims and counter claims about illegal logging increase between the Malaysian and Indonesian governments, The Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has called on its members to stand firm.

The problem of illegal timber, particularly ramin, has come under the spotlight with the publication of a report “Profiting from Plunder” by the Environmental Investigation Agency and the Indonesian environmental group Telapak. It claims to expose how endangered wood is smuggled into Malaysia each year from Indonesia and has accused Malaysia of wilfully failing to uphold its international commitments.

However, the Malaysian government says it is Indonesian traders who are bringing illegal logs into their country and said responsibility to address the problem lies with the sovereign national government concerned. Blaming others and playing the “victim’ card are not options, it said, adding that there is an urgent need to address the matter to provide an amicable solution.

Indonesia meanwhile has called for a global boycott of Malaysian wood products. Forestry minister Mohammed Prakosa said: “I call on governments such as those in the EU not to import any wood products from Malaysia, as they are using illegal logs from Indonesia.”

As the row continues, the TTF has repeated its commitment to sourcing legal timber into the UK market place and called on suppliers to take whatever steps prove necessary to fulfil that objective.

TTF corporate social responsibility adviser Andy Roby said: “All supplier countries must attempt to conform to the requirements of the UK market place which increasingly emphasises the importance of verified legality. Malaysia has made much progress in this regard but needs to tighten up whatever loopholes exist within the current legal framework enabling the UK market to have confidence in its Malaysian supplies.”

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