Page 17 - BOSS Today Issue 22

The requirements he European Timber Are You In First Place? to support transparency and
TRegulation (EUTR) came The legislation distinguishes traceability within the domestic
of the new into force on 3 March 2013, between companies that ‘first timber supply chain.
European Timber and affects most companies place’ timber/timber products Under the EUTR, it is a
that deal in timber or timber- on the market (often this is criminal offence to place
Regulations related products. The regulation the company responsible for illegal timber or timber
reach far into aims to tackle the problem importing the goods) and products on the EU market.
Likewise, any company which
those who use those products
of illegal logging by reducing
the OP industry the demand and market for further down the supply chain. places timber on the market
illegally harvested timber Companies ‘first placing’ timber without undertaking sufficient
in the EU. Similar legislation on the EU market must carry due diligence is liable for
has also been implemented out due diligence, which prosecution, as is any company
in the United States, and the involves obtaining information which fails to maintain
Australian Government is about about products and supply appropriate records to assist
to introduce equivalent laws. chains and undertaking a risk with traceability.
The legislation covers the assessment exercise in order to The National Measurement
vast majority of timber and establish whether the timber Office (NMO) has been
timber-related products, has been legally harvested. appointed as the ‘Competent
including paper and related Those companies which are Authority’ responsible for
materials, and any company buying or using timber which enforcing the EUTR in the UK.
– including those in the office has already been placed on the The NMO’s primary function is
products (OP) industry - that market must maintain records to enforce the prohibition on
buys, sells, or utilises relevant of whom they have purchased illegal timber being placed on
products will be affected by the timber from, and also to the market and to undertake
EUTR. whom they supply it, in order risk-based enforcement visits

May 2014 | BOSS TODAY 17

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