A model contract for the supply of legal and sustainable wood products has been published to guide central government departments in their timber procurement.
The Timber Products Advice Note, published by the government’s Central Point for Expertise on Timber Procurement (CPET), includes the model contract and specification text, and has been circulated in advance of the introduction of new timber procurement regulations in April 2009.
From that date the government, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies will be required to procure either legal and sustainable timber or wood licensed by the EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade.
The note says that no FLEGT-licensed timber is currently available on the market, but timber may be bought from a FLEGT partner country where a an agreement has been signed with the EU, but where the the licensing system is not yet in operation.
Government departments are being advised to request evidence from suppliers using a risk-based approach, with routine evidence being requested where timber is coming from sources with poor forest governance records.
To view the guidance, see the PDF above right
Related Files
Timber guidance notes
