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.

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.

IMM published its newsletter of May 2020 touching upon a range of timber sector relevant news, including recent timber trade trends and company surveys on FLEGT licensing and awareness.

The National Forest and wildlife Service of Peru (SERFOR) announces the completion of the updating of the Monitoring and Control module of its National Forest and Wildlife Information System (MC-SNIFFS). Finally this module will be able to prove legal origin of Peruvian timber in both domestic as well as international markets.

The Sustainable Forestry Information System Suriname is part of the National Forest Monitoring System and will replace the present log tracking system (LogPro), aiming to improve both the efficiency and transparency of monitoring timber harvesting and trade. SFISS finally aims to ensure the legality of timber harvesting and trade.

In February, the Indonesian Ministry of Trade issued new requirements for Export of Forestry Industry Product. This was seen by many as an effort to weaken the Indonesian Timber Legality Verification System. After strong reactions by civil society and environmentalists, the same Ministry revoked the regulation.