Timber supply chains are regulated to ensure harvesting practices are legal, encourage sustainable harvesting practices and support global forest governance. Businesses trading in timber and timber products must take steps to ensure that they originate from legal sources. The Office for Product Safety & Standards enforce the Timber and FLEGT Regulations on behalf of DEFRA. From 1st January 2021, the European Timber Regulation (EUTR) and FLEGT will become UK domestic legislation as the UK Timber Regulations and FLEGT.
The UK Government have established their own UK timber regulation and UK FLEGT regulation which will have the same requirements as current EU systems. This will ensure the UK continues to play a leading role in tackling illegal imports. Businesses trading timber between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are being urged by the UK Government to take action to ensure they are prepared for the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020.
In our recent webinar, Phil Matthews from the Office for Product Safety and Standards presented on what businesses trading with the EU/EEA and Northern Ireland need to do to prepare and continue to trade legally.
If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording here, and for more information, read our guest article from the Office for Product Safety and Standards here.