From 30 Dec 2024, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will replace the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), according to the EU Timber Trade Federation (ETTF). It obliges importers of timber or timber products in the EU to apply a due diligence system prior to importing. They must have documentation to prove the deforestation-free wood has been legally harvested before entering the EU market. The wood must come from plots of land where no deforestation or forest degradation, according to its regulation implemented in 2020. Products covered by CITES or Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licenses are also affected.
Importers have to specify the tree species, country of harvest, geo-coordinates of all plots of land where the wood was harvested, date or time range of harvest and evidence that the deforestation-free wood was legally harvested. The EUDR requires that the timber has been harvested in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production. Proof of the supply chain is also required to establish the link between the geo-coordinates provided, the proof of legality and the exported timber product.
Timber imported into the EU with a valid FLEGT licence is considered to have been legally harvested under the EUDR and hence fulfils a part of the requirements. FLEGT timber is no longer a ‘green lane’ as it used to be in EUTR.
For wood products harvested from 29 Jun 2023 and delivered before 30 Dec 2024, importers have to apply for the EUTR.
In a statement, the ETTF urges exporters to inform their timber suppliers of this new regulation for suppliers to provide necessary information in time.
Source: ITTO
