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European Parliament passes illegal timber import ban
09/07/2010
A ban on European imports and sales of illegally harvested timber has been passed by the European Parliament with a heavy majority.
The MEPs voted 644-25 in favour of the ban, which is an effort to fight climate change and deforestation from the Amazon to Asia and punish unscrupulous dealers. Illegal timber is currently thought to make up around one-fifth of all imports to the EU.
European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik, said, "With this, we are sending a signal to the world that the EU will no longer serve as a market for illegally harvested timber."
The ban now only needs to be formally approved by the European Council. It will not take effect for two more years, however, as the member states each need to draw up their own penalties for lawbreakers.
The passing has been commended by environmental groups, who are delighted that it finally closes an industry loophole.
Anke Schulmeister, EU forest policy officer at WWF, said, "Those who have been making a profit from illegal logging and destroying forests around the world have finally been given a good slap in the face."
UN figures show illegally harvested timber represents 20 to 40 per cent of global production of industrial wood, or 350 million to 650 million cubic metres. WWF estimated that 2006 saw around 30 million cubic metres of timber and wooden products from illegal logging – mostly from Russia, China and Indonesia – imported to the EU.
The MEPs voted 644-25 in favour of the ban, which is an effort to fight climate change and deforestation from the Amazon to Asia and punish unscrupulous dealers. Illegal timber is currently thought to make up around one-fifth of all imports to the EU.
European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik, said, "With this, we are sending a signal to the world that the EU will no longer serve as a market for illegally harvested timber."
The ban now only needs to be formally approved by the European Council. It will not take effect for two more years, however, as the member states each need to draw up their own penalties for lawbreakers.
The passing has been commended by environmental groups, who are delighted that it finally closes an industry loophole.
Anke Schulmeister, EU forest policy officer at WWF, said, "Those who have been making a profit from illegal logging and destroying forests around the world have finally been given a good slap in the face."
UN figures show illegally harvested timber represents 20 to 40 per cent of global production of industrial wood, or 350 million to 650 million cubic metres. WWF estimated that 2006 saw around 30 million cubic metres of timber and wooden products from illegal logging – mostly from Russia, China and Indonesia – imported to the EU.
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