Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 5 • Number 19 • 28th October 2005
EU Agrees to Timber Licensing Scheme
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European Agriculture Ministers on 24 October agreed to establish a scheme under the ‘EU Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade’ (FLEGT) under which countries that export timber to the EU could voluntarily decide to negotiate partnership agreements with the EU (see BRIDGES Trade BioRes, 21 January 2005). Once the agreement was signed, the partner country would receive support to promote governance reform and would become subject to a binding licensing scheme. Under the scheme, timber exports from the country to the EU would require a government-issued license confirming the legality of the shipment in order to be permitted to enter EU borders. The license would have to state that the timber products had been produced from domestic timber that was legally harvested or from timber that was legally imported into the territory of the partner in accordance with national laws as laid down in the partnership agreement. European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel said “only by working in close partnership with timber-producing countries can we hope to have a real impact. The partnership agreements provide producing countries with the incentives and support required for them to fight illegal logging.” However, Sebastien Risso of the environmental lobby group Greenpeace criticised the plan. “This [voluntary licensing] is like asking companies to voluntarily pay taxes. Legality should be a precondition for doing business, not a vain wish.”
“Agriculture and Fisheries Council Meeting Press Release 13130/05″ EU, 25 October 2005; “EU to tighten controls on illegal timber imports,” EURACTIV, 26 October 2005; “EU Agrees Licensing Plan to Combat Illegal Logging,” REUTERS, 25 October 2005.
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