Licenses will reduce trade with illegal timber

June 1, 2010 by timbercommunity

EU is working hard to get to a control system that will block imports of illegally logged timber. The Swedish Forest Agency has, on behalf of the Swedish Government, presented a proposal for how the control unit should look like in Sweden, the so-called 'FLEGT licensing scheme. The system has been created to prevent illegal logging and trade in forest.  Licenses are intended to prevent imports of illegally logging and trade in forest.

The system is based on agreements signed between EU and countries outside the Union, defined as partner countries. Under the licensing all timber products imported into EU from a partner country must be accompanied by a FLEGT license, which will ensure that products are produced or imported legally. Third parties will monitor the compliance. Under the proposal the Swedish Forest Agency will together with customs coordinate these activities in Sweden. 

The Swedish Forest Agency proposes that no fees will be charged for the inspections and that the system must be evaluated and monitored after it has been in operation two years. Wood products imported from partner must have a license to show that raw materials come from legally harvested wood. Initially the Swedish Forest Agency does not charge any fees for the necessary control.