In mid-November 2021,\u00a0the EU Commission adopted a proposal for a ban on deforestation-free supply chains. The timber trade associations GD Holz and ETTF see a need for improvement in some areas.<\/p>\n
The draft regulation is intended to curb deforestation in global supply chains through requirements for risky products whose production could endanger forests worldwide. These include beef, soy, palm oil and wood, wood products.<\/p>\n
Substitute for EUTR<\/strong><\/p>\n The European Timber Trade Association (ETTF) and the German Timber Trade Association (GD Holz) have taken part in various hearings on the draft regulation in recent weeks and have expressed their concerns about implementation.<\/p>\n The regulation will replace the currently valid European Timber Regulation (EUTR), the duty of care for the import of wood will be integrated into the new regulation.<\/p>\n From the point of view of the European Timber Trade Association, nothing fundamental has changed with regard to the due diligence of importers, but some further criteria for due diligence and documentation have been included that require a more detailed definition. ETTF fears that the concrete definition of the impact site (geo-localisation) cannot be implemented in many cases.<\/p>\n For the documentation within the due diligence obligation, the documentation should only be done once a year for the same suppliers. A particularly important point is that the duty of care should not be extended to larger dealers, but should remain with the first distributor, i.e. the importer, as usual.<\/p>\n Ensure legality<\/strong><\/p>\n Another important point from the point of view of GD Holz and ETTF is the definition of \"deforestation\" and \"degradation\". The ordinance must ensure that orderly forest management according to state laws is the basis for legal logging. Sustainable forest management in the supplier countries must not be viewed as \"deforestation\" or \"degradation\".<\/p>\n According to information from the EU Commission, the FLEGT process will no longer be continued in its current form. It is still unclear how partnership agreements with FLEGT partners and negotiations with FLEGT candidates are to be handled. Here, the associations are committed to continuing the process in any case, as it ensures more document security and more awareness of legality and sustainability in the supplier countries.<\/p>\n In addition, the associations advocate that the product range in the field of wood should also be expanded to include garden chairs, charcoal and tools or toys made from imported wood, so that there is a level playing field for importers of all wood products.<\/p>\n Basically agree<\/strong><\/p>\n In principle, GD Holz and ETTF welcome the new draft regulation because it continues the successful legislation of the EU timber trade regulation and integrates important product areas with soy, palm oil and other products. However, the regulation must not result in medium-sized companies in particular being burdened with even more bureaucracy and costs.<\/p>\n The EU Commission's draft regulation will now be discussed with the 27 member states in the coming months before a decision is made and concrete formulation is made.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In mid-November 2021,\u00a0the EU Commission adopted a proposal for a ban on deforestation-free supply chains. The timber trade associations GD Holz and ETTF see a need for improvement in some areas. The draft regulation is intended to curb deforestation in … Continue reading