DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref:
67/09) issued by The Government News Network on 25 March 2009
Environment
Secretary Hilary Benn will today (25 March) call for tougher
European laws to tackle illegal logging.
Mr Benn wants to make it an offence to import illegally produced
timber into the European Union.
Mr Benn said that the UK, as the world's fourth largest
importer of timber, should lead by example when it comes to the
timber Government buys. So from next week (1 April), under the
government's timber procurement policy introduced in 2000,
government departments, agencies and other bodies will only be
able to buy wood and timber products originating from
independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a
licensed country.
Deforestation accounts for around 18 per cent of global
greenhouse gas emissions, and illegal logging costs timber
producing economies worldwide $10 billion a year. Hilary Benn said:
"Illegal logging causes untold environmental damage, it
harms communities and it threatens wildlife. If we import timber
without ensuring that it is legally sourced, then we are
contributing to these problems.
"We in the UK have a responsibility to act. Government
departments are estimated to account for one fifth of all timber
bought in the UK - and this rises to two fifths if you include
local authorities and other government bodies.
"So from 1 April we're changing the way we buy timber.
It is a message to the rest of Europe that we are ready to lead on
this issue - and we want to do more.
"We want to strengthen the welcome steps that the EU is
taking to exclude illegal timber from our markets. Making it an
offence to import it would send a clear message to the market that
such activity was no longer acceptable.
"We need to bring an end to this pernicious trade. Illegal
timber should be just that - illegal."
Notes to Editors
1. Central Government departments are estimated to purchase 20
per cent of all timber bought in the UK. This figure rises to 40
per cent when including local authorities and other government bodies.
2. The Commission's proposal for a Due Diligence Regulation
states that an operator which first places timber or timber
products on the market must apply a system of due diligence to
minimise the risk of placing illegal timber on the Community market.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website http://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
To subscribe or unsubscribe to Defra's mailing list go to: http://nds.coi.gov.uk
Once on the NDS website see Sign up
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Website
http://www.defra.gov.uk