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Illegal logging – evaluation of EU rules (fitness check)

Environment

Illegal logging is the harvesting of wood in violation of national laws. It is a global problem with significant economic, social and environmental impact. The EU has two key legal acts to fight illegal logging: • the forest law enforcement, governance and trade regulation and • the EU timber regulation. This fitness check will examine how these regulations have worked globally, how effective, efficient, relevant and consistent are, and whether they usefully supplement national efforts.

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Public consultation

ID: 11630

Lobbying Activity

16 responses

Consultation response

WWF European Policy Programme, 28 Feb 2020

WWF feedback The intention of both the EUTR and the FLEGT regulation is to fight illegal logging and related trade. A fitness check of the regulations therefore needs to address this overarching objective thoroughly and equally from an economic, social and environmental…

Consultation response

Greenpeace European Unit, 26 Feb 2020

The EUTR fitness check should assess the legislation in light of its environmental goals and legal basis (Art. 192 TFEU), and in terms of its contribution to the EU’s forest protection objectives. An evaluation limited to the economic costs and benefits for the stakeholders involved would not be…

Consultation response

ClientEarth AISBL, 28 Feb 2020

ClientEarth considers that both the EUTR & FLEGT Regulation have contributed to more legality and transparency in the global timber supply chain and have made progress towards achieving the objectives of the FLEGT Action Plan. This Fitness Check is a good opportunity to assess the remaining…

Finnish Forest Industries urges expansion of timber regulation scope

Finnish Forest Industries Federation (Metsäteollisuus ry), 28 Feb 2020

The federation calls for expanding regulation to cover printed products and furniture. They also request better recognition for forest certification schemes as tools to verify origin.
Expanding the rules would give Finnish companies a competitive advantage over imports.
International traders using countries with weak laws to funnel illegal wood lose.

Paper industry urges wider timber rules to stop unfair competition

Confederation of European Paper Industries, 27 Feb 2020

Cepi calls for the Commission to extend the regulation's scope to include products like printed matter. They advocate for better recognition of forest certification schemes to verify raw material origins.
Expanding the scope would prevent non-EU competitors from bypassing legality requirements and harming market reputation.
International exporters of uncertified wood products would lose their ability to freely access the European market.

Consultation response

European Landowners' Organization asbl, 28 Feb 2020

The ELO represents the collective voice of landowners, managers and farmers across Europe. Their business and private properties are the core for a sustainable and prosperous countryside. The ELO addresses issues that affect European rural areas, which represent over 82% of the EU's territory (48%…

Consultation response

Inter Ikea Systems BV, 28 Feb 2020

As a large user of wood, sourcing from over 50 countries, the IKEA business can have a significant impact on the world’s forests and the timber industry. That’s why we place sustainable forest management at the core of our business – working to eliminate forest degradation and deforestation and…

Consultation response

European State Forest Association, 26 Feb 2020

As a representative of 36 State Forest Management Organizations which, together, manage 1/3 of Europe’s forests, we would like to share the experiences of our members regarding the present EU rules on illegal logging, specifically the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) as part of the FLEGT Action plan. In…

Consultation response

Earthsight, 28 Feb 2020

The European Union Timber Regulation is a pioneering piece of legislation and remains a vital tool in the global fight against illegal deforestation and the associated trade in commodities. While there have been laudable steps taken by a few Member States to enforce this law over the years, these…

Consultation response

European Confederation of Woodworking Industries, 28 Feb 2020

CEI-Bois wishes to provide the inputs of the European Woodworking Industry to the EU Timber Regulation and FLEGT fitness check. EU Timber Regulation The EU added value of this instrument is undeniable: only a uniform set of rules valid for all EU countries and a coordinated enforcement can make…

Consultation response

FSC International Center GmbH (IC), 27 Feb 2020

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global NGO promoting sustainable forest management through its certification scheme, welcomes the EU Roadmap and wish to highlight the following points: 1) FLEGT & FSC – legality and sustainability are better together FSC is committed to fight illegal…

Consultation response

FEDUSTRIA, 18 Feb 2020

Fedustria is the Belgian sectoral federation that defends the interests of the textile, wood and furniture industries, including timber import companies. The fight against illegal logging is vital for the continued existence of our sector. Both Fedustria and its individual members are fully aware…

Consultation response

European Furniture Industries Confederation, 28 Feb 2020

The European Furniture Industries Confederation (EFIC), welcomes EU initiatives aimed at strengthening the fight against illegal logging. Illegal logging is a pervasive problem of major international concern. Forests provide a broad variety of environmental, economic and social benefits essential…

Consultation response

European Timber Trade Federation, 18 Feb 2020

ETTF represents 15 European timber trade associations with timber importers who import from all over the world. It is the representative trading organization for timber and timber products in the EU market and worldwide. Moreover, there are 3 Monitoring Organizations (France, Italy, Germany) within…

Consultation response

Państwowe Gospodarstwo Leśne Lasy Państwowe, 28 Feb 2020

State Forests National Forest Holding is a Polish governmental organization that manages state-owned Polish forests on behalf of the Polish State Treasury. It was founded in 1924 and now oversees about 7.5 million hectares of forest (about 77% of Polish forests and 25% of Poland's territory). The…

Consultation response

Senior Corporate Silver Spoon, Environment & Nature Association/Ezüstkanál Nyugdíjas Társasági, Környezet- és természetvédelmi Egyesület, 2 Feb 2020

Dear European Commission, Dear Lady/ Sir, After reading the Roadmap Illegal logging - evaluation of EU rules (fitness check), I would like to recommend the following to help control deforestation as a Global problem and as an environmental and socio-economic problem existing at EU level. With…