With trade in wood from illegal or controversial sources still going on, new good practice guidance to support industry efforts in responsible sourcing and sustainable forest management has been issued.
Business standards company BSI has come together with WWF-UK Global Forest & Trade Network to produce PAS 2021 - Exercising due diligence in establishing the legal origin of timber and timber products - Guide to Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 .

The guidance aims to help the timber industry meet the impending EU timber regulation which comes into effect on March 3 next year because of continuing irresponsible activity in the industry.

PAS 2021 will help organisations identify if they are affected by the new regulation and their obligations; help them develop and implement a due diligence system to minimise the risk of illegal timber in supply chains; and describe good practices for responsible trade in timber and timber products that go beyond the minimum requirements of the regulation

It will be of use to any organisation that places timber or timber products (including materials made from pulp and paper) on the EU market, or that sells and buys such products already available on the EU market.

Said Shirley Bailey-Wood, director of publishing at BSI: "The standard encourages organizations to put a microscope on their business processes to ensure they minimise the risk of illegal timber in the supply chain."

WWF-UK chief executive David Nussbaum added: "This new standard builds on WWF's collaboration with businesses in the UK to eliminate illegal and unsustainable timber and timber products from their global supply chains.

"A thriving legal timber market, that helps to protect the environment as well as the resources it provides, is the best way to support those investing in sustainable commodities. It will take many stakeholders to play their part to achieve this, and the PAS 2021 standard is another tool to help them do so."