Finland’s forest industry is strongly opposing proposed changes to the EU plant health directive which would make its wood imports from Russia more difficult and costly.
The Finnish Forest Industries Federation (FFIF) says the country may take the matter to court or apply for an exemption if a satisfactory solution cannot be found.
Planned amendments would make all coniferous wood imported into the EU liable to border inspection for signs of wood pests.
FFIF director Hannu Valtanen said: “Finland’s forests are in full use and imported wood from Russia is needed to maintain production. Roundwood has been imported from Russia to Finland since the 1890s and there are no signs of pests entering Finland along with imported wood.”
Mr Valtanen said studies by the Finnish Forest Research Institute and inspections by Finland’s Plant Production Inspection Centre had not found pests in imported wood.
