New EU Timber regulations less than six months away

The March introduction of the EU’s new rules intended to prevent the selling of illegally felled timber is now less than six months away. Timber merchants need to be taking measures now to ensure they adhere to the new rules.
The new EU Timber Regulations will outlaw the “placing on the market of illegally harvested timber or timber products derived from such timber”. The law does not simply cover solid timber, but also includes paper, plywood, wood panels and sheets, flooring, veneering and pulp.
The regulations state a number of measures any retailer should have in place to make sure they don’t buy or sell illegally sourced timber. The new law will be the first of its kind in the EU and will follow the introduction of the Lacey Act in the US, which also prohibits the sale of illegally logged timber products.
What the new policy means for tradespeople varies. Matt Mahony from the British Woodworking Federation explained, “How much of a burden this will become will depend on what role an organisation plays in a transaction.”
He added: “BWF members are urged to familiarise themselves with the regulation and be aware of what their responsibilities might be in any given situation.”
Norbord’s wood panel products are sourced from FSC-certified sources and many are made using either recycled timber or sawmill residues. OSB, Chipboard and MDF products, such as Sterling OSB, Caberboard and Caberwood, are often a far greener option for many construction jobs than solid timber. For more information about Norbord products, look here.
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http://www.norbord.co.uk/news/new-eu-timber-regulations-less-six-months-away