On 3rd March, the new European Timber Regulation (EUTR), which will affect the entire furniture supply chain, came into force. In this article, FIRA outlines the basics of the regulations, and the guidance on offer, and outlines further advice resources …
Essentially, the regulation, initiated due to increasing concerns over unsustainable forest management practices and illegal logging – studies have suggested that approximately 20% of timber and timber products entering the European market originate from an illegal source – prohibits the sale of illegally-harvested timber and wooden products such as certain items of furniture on the European market.
The regulation defines companies that first place timber and timber products on the European market as ‘Operators’ and requires them to implement a robust due diligence system in order to identify, manage and mitigate the risk of sourcing illegally-harvested timber or timber products. The EUTR also establishes obligations for ‘Traders’, who buy and sell timber and timber products within the European market, to maintain sufficient records to enable supply chain traceability.
“It is clearly important that the practice of illegal logging be prevented due to its negative impacts on some of the world’s poorest economies”
A wide variety of timber and timber-containing products is covered, including: sawn and machined wood; composite boards such as fibreboard, particleboard and plywood; veneering sheets; non-upholstered furniture; and garden furniture.
An appendix to the EUTR summarises those items covered by the regulation, and references a more comprehensive listing, categorised by the products’ allocated commodity codes.
FIRA is holding a series of training sessions, aimed at those within the UK furniture industry. These courses will cover important issues such as:
• The roles of organisations within the furniture supply chain
• Obligations of Operators and Traders
• Measures and procedures for performing satisfactory due diligence
• Maintaining records and other documentation for supply chain traceability
• Responsible timber purchasing best practice
• The roles of monitoring organisations and competent authorities
• The role of Chain-of-Custody certification schemes
Peter Beele, who represents FIRA on the BSI Steering Committee for the development of a useful guide to the regulation – Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2021 – says: “Illegal logging has a series of social and environmental effects such as unsustainable deforestation, lost revenue for the countries concerned, and corruption that undermines the rule of law.
“Whilst addressing the regulation will require some effort from those within the timber and wood products supply chains, it is clearly important that the practice of illegal logging be prevented due to its negative impacts on some of the world’s poorest economies.”
It is important to note that the regulation is purely concerned with the legality of timber, and not the sustainability or environmental aspects of harvesting.
FIRA’s one-day EUTR Awareness Training courses are designed to enable organisations to understand their legal obligations when importing, selling and trading timber and timber products in the EU.
The European Commission has published its final EU Timber Regulation Guidance Document. The document can be downloaded here.
In addition, a new EC website specifically dedicated to the EUTR has recently been launched, available here. The website provides further useful guidance and definitions together with key contacts.
Courses will take place at FIRA's HQ in Stevenage on 7th and 27th March. Email [email protected] to find out more.
