It is now illegal to deal with unregulated timber.

 

It is now illegal to deal with unregulated timber. The National Measurements Office will enforce the European Union Timber Regulations (EUTR)

You must ensure that you have chosen a supplier with one of the following certifications:

  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
  • Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)
  • (Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI)
  • Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
  • Malasian Timber Certification Scheme) (MTCS

 

Anyone who purchases timber is legally obliged under the European Timber Regulation (EUTR) to ensure that all timber used for both temporary and permanent works is legally harvested (“harvested in accordance with the applicable legislation in the country of harvest”). Non-compliance can lead to seizures or fines.

If you purchase timber products from outside the EU and / or harvest timber from inside the EU, you will be classified as an “Operator”

All operators are legally required to have a Due Diligence (DD) system in place for all timber (products) delivered since 3rd March 2013. This must cover; information provision, risk assessment and risk mitigation.

This obligation can be fulfilled by following the Timber Trade Federation’s Responsible Procurement Policy, or signing up to a Monitoring Organisation who will conduct a DD system on your behalf.

If products are received in timber packaging, this currently does not cause the buyer to be classed as an Operator as the packaging has not been purchased itself but the product it contains.

 

If you only purchase timber products from inside the EU and do not harvest any timber, you will be classified as a “Trader”

All traders are legally obliged to keep records (for a minimum of 5 years) of where the timber was purchased and delivered since 3rd March 2013.  If applicable, a record must also be kept where the timber was sold on to.

Materials Controllers / Store men should store (either as physical or electronic copies) all timber delivery notes and invoices to meet this Obligation of Traceability.

 

For more information, refer to: http://www.bis.gov.uk/nmo/enforcement/EU-Timber-Regulation

 

 

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