- Timber legality legislation
- UK & EU Timber Regulations
- EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
- FSC and due diligence
- FAQs – UKTR and FSC
Timber legality legislation
Complying with timber legality legislation is an essential component of FSC certification. In fact, compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and nationally ratified international treaties, conventions and agreements is our first principle of responsible forest management.
All countries with forests have rules for forest ownership and management, and trade, but the level of enforcement of these rules varies across the globe.
For this reason, several governments have adopted ‘legislation for timber legality’ since 2008. These are laws that ban the trading of timber that is harvested illegally anywhere on the planet. To prevent the purchase and sale of timber products connected to illegal harvesting, these governments require companies to apply due diligence.
UK & EU Timber Regulations
The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into force on 3 March 2013, making it illegal to place illegally harvested timber and timber products on the EU market. On 1 January 2021, EUTR became UK domestic legislation as the UK Timber Regulations (UKTR), which have the same requirements as current EU systems. These regulations affect all those that first place timber on the EU or UK markets as well as traders further down the supply chain.
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
The EUDR will prohibit placing products linked to deforestation and forest degradation on the EU market. FSC has actively and constructively supported the development of the EUDR from its inception. We will continue to work with the European Comission and Competent Authorities to ensure that the details are clear, appropriate and enforceable consistently. We believe that Voluntary Sustainability Schemes, such as FSC certification, provide a strong foundation for businesses to build their compliance systems. For more information on FSC’s role in EUDR, you can watch this recent webinar recording.
FSC and due diligence
Organisations carrying out due diligence for EUTR and UKTR can use FSC certification as a key element of risk assessment and mitigation. However, trading in FSC-certified materials does not result in exemption from the due diligence required. FSC can already be used as a tool to help companies meet some of the EUDR due diligence obligations at both risk assessment and risk mitigation phases, without exempting companies from their obligations.
FAQs – UKTR and FSC
- How can FSC certification be used in UKTR assessment and mitigation?
- If FSC certification is not a green lane then what extra information is needed?
- As an operator under UKTR, would full compliance with evaluating non-certified and certified timber via an FSC Controlled Wood Risk assessment, for example, be acceptable?
- Does FSC have any plans for FSC certification to cover the whole supply chain and become a green lane to UKTR/EUTR?
- If all links in the supply chain are confirmed, and invoices are provided linking each supplier, and you obtain FSC certificates for each supplier, with scopes checked, would this be a good demonstration of mitigation and verification?
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