EU may mandate certification system for Amazon timber

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EU may mandate certification system for Amazon timber
mongabay.com
June 20, 2008

According to O Estado de São Paulo and the International Tropical Timber Organization, the European Union is considering a green-labeling program for certifying the origin of timber imports. The label is said to target widespread illegal logging in the Amazon. Europe about 47 percent of timber produced in the Amazon region.

"The system will... present chain of custody information from the country of origin to the manufacturer of the final product," stated the ITTO in its bimonthly Tropical Timber Market Report. "The system aims to track down the timber's origin and reward importers and exporters that comply with natural resources protection and management laws."

Presently forest certification is voluntary and has varying standards.

A decision on the proposal is expected to take several months because all 27 EU member-countries must review the proposal. France said that it would support the proposal under pressure from environmental organizations.

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