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EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
Defra: Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has called for tougher European laws to tackle illegal logging and to make it an offence to import illegally produced timber into the European Union.
Mr Benn said that the UK, as the world's 4th largest importer of timber, should lead by example when it comes to the timber Government buys. So, from 1 April 2009, under the government's timber procurement policy (introduced in 2000) government departments, agencies & other bodies will only be able to buy wood & timber products originating from independently verified legal & sustainable sources, or from a licensed country.
Press release ~ CPET - Timber procurement policy ~
BERR: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has issued a Direction to local authorities to recall & withdraw products containing an unauthorised biocide called DMF. The European Commission has issued legislation requiring all EU member states to ensure no products containing DMF - Dimethylfumarate - are placed or made available on the market. This is under Article 13 of Directive 2001/95/EC (General Product Safety Directive).
Local authorities will be required to ensure that products containing DMF already placed or made available on the market are withdrawn. The Decision becomes effective from 1 May 2009.
