Preliminary NGO demands to the European Commission for action on the trade in illegal timber and non-timber forest products

We urge the European Commission to take immediate action to stop the trade in illegally harvested timber and non-timber forest products, and to act in line with commitments made in the G8 Action Programme on Forests[1], the OECD Convention on Bribery and Corruption[2], the recommendations of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo[3] and those of the Report of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1306 (2000), Paragraph 19, in relation to Sierra Leone[4].

Illegal logging and trade in illegal timber are major causes of forest loss in the North and South. These widespread practices create social strife and foster corruption; cause governments, communities and industry to lose much needed revenue and seriously undermine their ability to practice good governance as well as good forest management. The European Union (EU) is bound by its existing commitments to stop trade in illegal forest products, but so far insufficient action has been taken to meet these commitments.

Illegal logging occurs when timber is harvested, transported, processed, bought or sold in violation or circumvention of national and sub-national laws, including conflict timber[5]. Bribery and corruption are often associated with illegal logging activities. During the mid-1990s the illegal timber trade was valued at US$15 billion per year, robbing national governments of significant revenues[6].

The EU has a particular responsibility for tackling this problem because:

• A significant volume of timber imports into the EU is estimated to be illegal[7].
• By importing illegally felled and exported timber, the EU encourages illegal activities (e.g. logging, tax fraud, corruption) and hinders the development of good governance.
• As part of the G8 group, the European Community supports the G8’s Action Programme on forests and is committed to tackling illegal logging.
• The EU Member States should also meet their commitments made as  parties to the OECD Convention on Bribery and Corruption[8].

Neither the EU nor any of its Member States currently has legislation or even a functional policy to prevent the importation and sale of illegally harvested or smuggled timber. The EU is effectively laundering large amounts of stolen timber into legitimate markets.

Currently, the EU cannot fulfill its commitments to supporting good governance, sustainable management of forests and capacity-building processes in timber exporting countries. We urge the European Commission to take immediate and serious action to stop the trade in illegal timber and non-timber forest products.

The European Union and the European Commission should:

• Host a multi-stakeholder meeting on illegal trade and illegal logging.
• Establish legislation to ban the import and sale of illegally sourced timber and non-timber forest products.
• Confirm in writing that trade restrictions measures to combat the trade of illegally harvested timber and non-timber forest products are consistent with WTO agreements.

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