Press release - June 16, 2010
Brussels, International — Greenpeace is pleased that after two years of difficult negotiations and seven years after the EU first planned to crack down on illegal timber pouring into the EU market, a ban now seems a step away.
Deforestation in Papua New Guinea
A compromise deal is on the verge of being struck between the rapporteur for the Parliament, the Spanish EU Presidency and the Commission over the new law. It still needs the formal agreement of the full Parliament and Council to officially enter into force.
Greenpeace EU forest policy director, Sebastien Risso, said: "If this law is passed, illegal timber will be banned from Europe. The world's largest market is about to shut its gates to companies profiting from illegal trafficking and forest destruction. The black market for wood products is often run by criminals fuelling conflict, robbing governments of revenue and causing irreversible environmental destruction. With this law, the black economy for wood products in Europe will be closed for business, levelling the playing field so companies are better able to act sustainably."
The law will send a clear signal to the market that illegal timber is prohibited and drive systemic changes in the forestry industry. Companies in Europe will be required to trace timber back to the country and concession of harvest as well as verify wood products considered at risk of being illegal. It will also significantly strengthen the EU Forest Law, Governance and Trade Partnership programme, a series of bilateral agreements with tropical countries to prevent the entry of illegal timber onto the European market.
On the downside, the EU law seems to be insufficient on a number of points. In particular the regime of sanctions and penalties is too weak, the date of application of the regulation is too late, two years after the entry into force, and printed materials, e.g. books, will be exempted for at least the next five years.
Greenpeace understands a significant majority of member states back the present agreement. Only a handful of countries, which have tried to water down the legislation throughout the process, were still expressing opposition until very recently. Sweden and Portugal have been most oppositional.