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Europe failing to use legal armoury against illegal logging

04 February 2016
by greenpeace -- last modified 04 February 2016

In the coming weeks, the European Commission will adopt a report assessing the implementation and effectiveness of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which became applicable in March 2013, and formulate recommendations about its next steps.


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The EUTR is a strong and important legal instrument to regulate the European market for timber and timber products. It was specifically designed to combat the trade in illegal timber. Yet weak enforcement and late implementation of the EUTR and the failure to comply by many European companies have hindered its effectiveness and thus undermined Europe's fight against illegal logging and associated trade. Once published, the Commission's report will be submitted to the Council and European Parliament. An exchange of views is due to be held in the Agriculture Council on 10 May.

 

Commenting on the EUTR's implementation, Sébastien Risso, Greenpeace EU forest policy director, said: "Europe's market is contaminated with timber from countries where forests are being illegally cleared and degraded. There is a solid piece of law that could prevent this, but delays, deficiencies, and European governments' lack of resolve to apply the law vigorously are casting doubts over Europe's commitment to fight illegal timber trade. If the EU wants to be a credible global force in forest protection, it must make sure European companies abide by the law and keep illegal timber out of the market".

 

From the Amazon to the Congo Basin, illegal logging is a major threat to the world's forests and people who depend on them and their biodiversity. According to Interpol, illegal logging is estimated to account for 50–90 per cent of the volume of all forestry products in key tropical producer countries and 15–30 per cent globally. The global economic value of illegal logging, including from processing, is estimated to be between US$ 30 and US$ 100 billion, equivalent to 10–30 per cent of global trade in timber and timber products.  The associated corruption has detrimental effects on government revenues, economic stability and the rule of law.

 

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

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