Cutting down importers of illegal timber products

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has fined 14 furniture importers over $186,000 last week because they didn’t act to minimise the risk of importing illegally harvested timber.

Head of Compliance and Enforcement at the department, Peter Timson said Australia has strict requirements for importing timber and it is essential to hold importers to account.

“We are enforcing our powers to help combat illegal logging which has been linked to organised crime, civil unrest, corruption, species extinction and environmental destruction around the world,” Mr Timson said.

“Importers must conduct adequate due diligence assessments. They must understand where they are sourcing their timber from and to limit the risk of it being illegally harvested. These importers didn’t follow the rules and fourteen fines were issued of $13,320 each.

“The illegal trade can comprise up to 10% of timber products entering Australia, undercutting local Australian production, regional businesses, and communities.

“It’s important that Australians have confidence that their furniture, housing materials and other timber products come from sustainably and responsibly sourced timber.

“Australia’s strict timber importing requirements set a high bar internationally. We also work with APEC member economies and relevant international organisations to combat the trade in illegally logged timber products globally.”

The fines were issued under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 and the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012.

For further information on importing timber products to Australia, visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry/policies/illegal-logging/importers.

Fast facts

• The due diligence system requires importers to demonstrate that they understand where the timber in their product has come from and what species it is.
• The Australian Government introduced the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation and Illegal Logging Prohibition Act in 2012, prohibiting the importation and sale of all timber products containing illegally logged timber. Due diligence requirements commenced 30 November 2014
• The department recently completed its Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 Sunsetting Review following consultation with industry and the public. The review resulted in recommendations to strengthen the department’s regulatory powers.
• The Minister has since agreed to pursue the recommended legislative reforms informed by the review. The department is now progressing these reforms that required changes to both the Act and Regulations. This will be considered by the government once substantially drafted.