At a well-attended meeting held on 4 September in Brussels, the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) presented newly developed due diligence tools. These tools aid European timber traders assess risk of illegal timber sourcing and address their obligations under the EU Timber Regulation.
The tools were developed in a collaboration between ETTF Technical Advisor Rachel Butler and Christian Sloth, Forest Legality Programme Manager of NEPCon.
A due diligence system was presented that can be applied directly by member organisations which do not have their own system developed. In addition, the team had also developed guidelines for those timber trade federations that have their own procurement systems in place, for harmonising these with the EU requirements.
“We’ve devised the system based on consultation with operators, stakeholders and assessment of existing systems, using terms consistent with the EUTR,” said Ms Butler. “While there are some areas open to interpretation, we’ve aimed to make it a practical, credible approach. The system for operators gives a step-by-step approach to risk assessment and also advises on illegal wood risk mitigation.”
Secretary General André de Boer said the new developments should make life easier across the trade. “They’re a good step to ensuring operators across Europe have a business due diligence tool and guidance,” he said.
”ETTF is taking its leadership role in guiding a large European industry segment on their obligations under the EU Timber Regulation very seriously. This piece of EU legislation can play a key part in the global efforts to halt illegal logging and deforestation, but only if implemented properly. The great effort of ETTF to help its members align and comply bodes well for the world’s forests”, comments Mr Sloth. ”I hope that the level of engagement shown by ETTF will inspire European umbrella organisations covering other relevant industry sectors such as retail, wood industries, and construction to take similar action”.
Following further comment, the new ETTF Guidelines for National Timber Trade Federations and Due Diligence System for Operators will be available on its website: www.ettf.info
About the European Timber Trade Federation
The European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) represents the key importing national timber trade federations in Europe. ETTF works closely together with the Fédération Européenne du Négoce de Bois (FEBO), originally the European organisation for non-importing timber traders. The European Federation of Parquet importers (EFPI) has attained extra-ordinary membership of ETTF in order to coordinate activities to address the consequences of the EU Timber Regulation.
Source: ETTF News