The Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF) is to hold discussions with members to discuss newly-published draft government emissions targets.

The department for the environment, food and rural affairs’ (DEFRA) draft national allocation plan for the EU‘s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) identifies the panels industry, along with the steel and paper sectors, as among the largest producers of carbon dioxide.

WPIF director Alistair Kerr said The Federation had not yet taken a position on the draft plan and would hold a members’ meeting during February to discuss the issue.

But he added: “We would share the same view as the paper industry – that if the government approves higher targets than our European competitors it is putting British industry at a competitive disadvantage.”

Nexfor Ltd’s director of health, safety and environmental affairs Steve Roebuck said: “The impact on our industry sector is large because all the UK manufacturers are over the 20MW threshold.”

&#8220We share the view of the paper industry – that if the government approves higher targets than our European competitors it is putting British industry at a competitive disadvantage”

WPIF director Alistair Kerr

He said panels producers had submitted data to DEFRA.

The Timber Trade Federation said most of its members were not high energy users so would not be affected by the ETS.

However, TTF head of public affairs Mark O’Brien said the ETS did highlight the importance of forestry as a tool for carbon dioxide reductions and the potential growth in timber demand on the back of making construction more efficient.

UK Forest Products Association executive director David Sulman said emission allowances were not expected to be a major problem for the sawmilling sector, which said was not as high energy using as the board sector.