Industry Statement on the EUTR

The Solid Wood Flooring Company support an EU Timber Regulation which is more effective at stopping illegal timber from being traded on the European market.

We, the undersigned organisations, are producers, purchasers or retailers of timber and timber products.

We welcomed and supported the introduction of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). It provided important progress towards stopping the trade in illegal timber in the EU and an opportunity to create a level playing field for businesses that source timber responsibly.

But the current legislation does not entirely fill its stated purpose, so there is an urgent need for further measures to make it fully effective.

Illegal logging poses a significant threat to global forest resources. It contributes to deforestation, causes loss of biodiversity and erodes the rule of law. It undermines responsible forest management, encourages corruption and tax evasion, and reduces the income of producer countries.

Cheap imports of illegal products also distort market pricing and investment prospects. And they have social implications, threatening the jobs and livelihoods of people who depend on forests for their survival. Many companies supported the original call for EU legislation to tackle these problems. This led to the EUTR.

In its review in 2015, the EUTR needs to be strengthened so it will be implemented and enforced effectively in all EU member states. At present, competent authorities often lack resources, training and coordination at EU level to ensure a coherent approach to the way the EUTR is implemented. And it remains unclear how many operators have comprehensive due diligence in place.

It’s essential that competent authorities take a coherent and firm approach towards the interpretation of the legislation, as well as applying harmonised penalties and sanctions, and ensuring there is sufficient capacity for enforcement across the EU member states.

In addition, at present the law does not apply to all timber and timber products. In fact, it covers less than 50% of the value of those products entering the EU market1. We believe that the regulation must be broadened so it applies to all wood products that could contain illegally-sourced timber.

Unfair competition, caused by widely varying enforcement practices among EU member states and the lack of coverage of a number of timber products in the EUTR, harms European companies that behave responsibly and attempt to play by the rules.

Concerted political action is needed to address these conditions in the review of the EUTR and subsequent proposals made for improvement by the European Commission.

We urge the European Commission to seize the opportunity of upcoming review to
deliver a strong EUTR that can halt the trade in illegal timber.

Our dependencies on global forest resources are at risk if the European market does not support a vision for comprehensively legal, responsible forest trade.

LIST OF SIGNATORIES*
COMPANIES
AB Fortum Vau0308rme samau0308gt med Stockholm stad
Accsys
Andrighetti Legnami Spa
B&Q plc
BAM Construct UK Ltd.
BAM Nuttall Ltd.
Bellotti Spa
Boots
Canal & River Trust
Carillion
Carrefour
Castorama
Corau0300 Domenico & Figli Spa
Crest Nicholson PLC
CrowdsKnow
Danzer UK Limited
Delhaize Group SA/NV
Edeka AG & Co. KG
Empatika
Exott
Forestry Commission England G. Luvisoni & Co SRL
Home Retail Group
Hornbach Baumarkt AG
IKEA
Immediate Media Co.
John Lewis Partnership
Kau0308hrs Group
Kingfisher plc
Kinnarps Group
James Latham PLC
Legnonord Spa
Marks & Spencer
Martens hout NV
Morgan Timber
Munksjou0308 AB
Otto Group GmbH & Co. KG
Pearson
Pureprint Group
Quintelier NV
Redrow Homes Ltd
Rougier Sylvaco Panneaux
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd
SC Abate Panel SRL
SC Arabesque SRL
SC Carpat Sticks SRL
SC Inform Lykos SA
SC Losan Romania SRL
SCA
Sequana
Servaege NV
Saint Gobain Building and Distribution UK & Ireland
SIG International Services GmbH
Silva Timber
Somex Cras Groep
Stern GmbH & Co. KG
Tesco Stores Ltd
The Solid Wood Flooring Company
Travis Perkins
van Hoorebeke Timber NV/SA
Vandecasteele Houtimport
Vasto Legno Spa
Vogel Import Export NV

Assocofani
Asociatu0327ia Producau0306torilor de Mobilau0306 din Romau0302nia
European Timber Trade Federation and its members:
• Asociaciou0301n Espanu0303ola de Comercio e Industria de la Madera
• Association Technique Internationale des Bois Tropicaux
• Belgische federatie van Hout Invoerhandel / Feu0301deu0301ration Belge du Commerce d’Importation de Bois • Dansk Traeforening
• European Federation of Parquet Importers
• Fedecomlegno
• GD Holz
• Koninklijke Vereniging Van Nederlandse Houtondernemingen
• Le Commerce du Bois
• UK Timber Trade Federation
FederlegnoArredo
Fedustria Federatie voor de Belgische textiel-, hout- en meubelindustrie/ Feu0301deu0301ration belge de l’industrie textile, du bois et de l’ameublement
Intergraf – European Federation for Print and Digital Communication Koninklijke CBM, Branchevereniging voor interieurbouw en meubelindustrie

The Solid Wood Flooring Company is a proud supporter of the WWF’s Save the Forest Campaign