Key players in the European timber trade have developed a shared set of objectives to promote the sourcing of legal timber.
A meeting attended by groups including the European Hardwood Federation, European Timber Trade Federation (FEBO) and the UK Timber Trade Federation decided a complete removal of illegal timber is needed from the European trade.
Challenges highlighted include the recently agreed European Commission Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Action Plan (FLEGT), the development of public procurement policies in member states and threats to public perception of the trade from NGO action and green consumers.
Long-term aims agreed include the need to grow market share; more progressive and productive engagement with producer countries; a return to a positive “green” consumer perception of timber products; and sharing of best practice between different nations.
The groups, also including the European Panels Federation, Le Commerce du Bois and Netherlands Timber Trade Federation, recognised the industry is under serious pressure to address the challenges and move forwad rapidly on the issue of illegal timber.
A range of initiatives to help deliver the FLEGT plan will be explored in the coming months.
