Timber trade news

The European Commission has published its draft regulation to fight against imported deforestation

26.01.2022

The European Commission has published its draft regulation to fight against imported deforestation

On Wednesday, November 17, the European Commission presented three new regulatory initiatives as part of the European Green Deal. Among these initiatives, the Commission published a draft regulation to fight against imported deforestation. Like the French National Strategy to Combat Imported Deforestation (SNDI), the draft regulation will apply to beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy and timber and timber products. The draft regulation will then be debated and voted on in the EU legislative bodies.

A new and updated Timber Trade Portal!

24.12.2021

A new and updated Timber Trade Portal!

The Timber Trade Portal has a completely new and updated website, and all of its content is now also available in Chinese. With support from the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Form International and the ATIBT worked together to create a more dynamic and user-friendly website to better support timber importers with their due diligence obligations.

What's new on the EUTR?

21.10.2021

What's new on the EUTR?

Client Earth published in mid-September its latest update on the implementation of the EUTR for the period June-August 2021. During the same period, the EU published two studies related to the implementation of the regulation.

EUTR Newsletter - ClientEarth

22.09.2021

EUTR Newsletter - ClientEarth

ClientEarth is an environmental organisation that uses the power of the law to protect the planet’s resources and people. The organisation is actively involved in forest protection and seeks to develop stronger laws and policies to halt deforestation caused by illegal timber trade, protect wildlife and to secure the rights of forest communities. ClientEarth does so by working with partnerships across borders, systems and sectors in over 50 countries.

Possible temporary suspension of timber export from the DRC

22.07.2021

Possible temporary suspension of timber export from the DRC

The Council of Ministers is considering the temporary suspension of the export of timber to the DRC. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Mrs. Eve Bazaiba, has adopted in the Council of Ministers 10 urgent measures relating to forest management.

A new partnership for the Timber Trade Portal!

15.04.2021

A new partnership for the Timber Trade Portal!

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Form International and the International Tropical Timber Technical Association (ATIBT) signed a new agreement for the expansion and improvement of the Timber Trade Portal (TTP) on the 8th of March, 2021.

Webinar: the role of certification within the EUTR

25.03.2021

Webinar: the role of certification within the EUTR

ATIBT and Preferred by Nature are offering a joint webinar about the use of forest certification within a EUTR-compliant Due diligence system.This webinar is additional to the February/March workshops on the EUTR in general. The aim of this extra session is to detail the use of forest certification as an effective tool within a due diligence system, in order to lower illegality risks.

Timber Trade Portal updated and now also available in French!

15.12.2020

Timber Trade Portal updated and now also available in French!

For the second time after its launch in 2016 the Timber Trade Portal has updated its country profiles and other background information. Each profile provides extensive country specific information on both timber industry and related timber legislation. The complete Timber Trade Portal is now also available in French for our francophone readers.

Republic of Congo promulgates new forest code

29.07.2020

Republic of Congo promulgates new forest code

The republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) definitively adopted law n° 33-2020 on a new forest code on July 8, 2020. This new law is under discussion since 2018 and was still under debate in the National Assembly in April 2020. The new forest code introduces new concepts like certification, verification of legality, consideration of riversides communities, deforestation and reforestation, the fight against climate change, carbon credits, etc.

Vietnam signs Free Trade Agreement with EU, one year after VPA

23.07.2020

Vietnam signs Free Trade Agreement with EU, one year after VPA

Vietnam’s National Assembly ratified a free trade agreement with the European Union on Monday 8 June 2020. This will have a significant impact on the development of the timber export industry and provides Vietnam with an incentive to implement its timber legality assurance system.

Russian bill on compulsory notice for use of logging equipment

15.07.2020

Russian bill on compulsory notice for use of logging equipment

In April 2020, the Committee of Natural Resources, Property and Land Regulations in the Duma (the Parliament of Russia) proposed an innovative bill intended "to make the forest industry absolutely transparent”, according to Deputy Chairman Nikolay Nikolaev. The move aims to improve regulations related to the timber trade, and to tackle wood trafficking, but it also affects aspects of forest control. Public discussion of the proposal was initiated earlier in February.

Brazil’s systems for transparency/control making progress

06.07.2020

Brazil’s systems for transparency/control making progress

The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) recently published the Technical Note N° 04/2020 that offers detailed guidance on authorizations and mandatory licenses for the export of timber and timber products. Through this new Technical Note, IBAMA demonstrates environmental control throughout the whole supply chain of timber and timber products.