In your excellent coverage of tropical timber certification your description of the opportunities available for suppliers/importers to obtain verified legal timber omitted to mention the Timber Trade Action Plan (TTAP).
You have covered the TTAP scheme in previous issues but could I take this opportunity of reminding the trade that timber suppliers across the tropics can access 72% of the cost of getting their businesses to supply verified legal timber via an EU/UK buyer. The money is drawn from an EU fund established for the purpose and is already being accessed by a number of major players in the UK with excellent results.
John White
Chief executive
Timber Trade Federation
