Environment secretary Hilary Benn has called for tougher European laws to tackle illegal logging.
Mr Benn signalled that the government wants to make it an offence to import illegally produced timber into the European Union.
His statement comes as the government prepares, on April 1, to implement its new timber procurement policy which stipulates that government departments, agencies and other bodies will only be able to buy wood and timber products originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed country.
“We in the UK have a responsibility to act. Government departments are estimated to account for one-fifth of all timber bought in the UK – and this rises to two-fifths if you include local authorities and other government bodies,” said Mr Benn.
“So from April 1 we’re changing the way we buy timber. It is a message to the rest of Europe that we are ready to lead on this issue – and we want to do more.
“We want to strengthen the welcome steps that the EU is taking to exclude illegal timber from our markets. Making it an offence to import it would send a clear message to the market that such activity was no longer acceptable.”
