Buyers must prove origins of timber; EU votes to stop illegal logging

23rd April | imports | Furniture buyers in the UK will have to prove they know the origins of timber imported into the country following an EU vote aimed at stamping out the sale of illegally harvested wood across Europe.

The WWF has given its backing to yesterday’s vote, saying it is an essential step towards tackling the global problem of illegal logging. Beatrix Richards, WWF head of forests trade and policy, said, ‘Illegal logging is a key driver of deforestation and degradation in some of the world’s most biodiverse forests and robs some of the world’s poorest countries of vital income would could be spent on health and education.’

The European Parliament’s decision must now be ratified by the EU’s 27 member states.