European legislation to combat illegal timber one step closer

Minister responds to appeal by the timber sector and NGOs

Amsterdam/Utrecht, June 27, 2007 – The Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Gerda Verburg, responded directly to a joint appeal from the timber sector and civil society organisations this morning. They asked the minister to pursue European legislation to halt trade in illegal timber. At a subsequent general meeting of the Dutch Parliament, the minister promised to make a case for such legislation within Europe. Members of Parliament showed unanimous support for legislation and requested information on specific steps and solutions from Verburg, which she provided.

Minister Verburg declared that illegal logging has a huge negative impact on people and the environment and that she is extremely motivated to take steps to combat this. She proposes working with the timber sector and civil society organisations in order to oppose illegal logging and employing a comprehensive package of measures. For years civil society organisations have been calling for European legislation to ban criminal trade in illegal timber.

Minister Verburg promised that she would campaign for legislation 'officially and unofficially’ within Europe. 'To achieve this it is vital to gain the support of other countries, because the legislation must be implemented and enforced throughout all of Europe. Up till now FLEGT, the European Action Plan to combat illegal logging and related trade, has not lived up to its potential,’ stated the minister.

The minister plans to change this, in any case as far as the Netherlands is concerned. She dismissed out of hand the argument made by the former cabinet that legislation was not possible, due to WTO international trade agreements. 'Legislation will have to be accepted within the WTO. We are going to fight for it there and we must give it our all.'

Verburg will raise the issue of FLEGT at the agricultural council in July. There, according to the minister, the time frame and the urgency of the study on additional measures for FLEGT must be clarified. Furthermore, the minister wants to see to it that the EU considers proposals for effective policy and enforcement as quickly as possible.

Greenpeace, Milieudefensie and ICCO together form the coalition on illegal wood. 'We are delighted with these statements by the minister. This is the first time in The Netherlands there has been a specific timeframe with specific steps to address the issue of illegal logging and trade. After years of consultations with the former cabinet and ongoing EU bureaucracy, this really is a refreshing change. Now it’s a matter of seeing that the minister fulfils her promises and turns them into action’, said Anne van Schaik, spokesperson for Milieudefensie on behalf of the coalition on illegal wood.

More information:
Milieudefensie press officer: +31 (0)20 5507333
Greenpeace press officer: +31 (0)6 25031012
ICCO press officer: +31 (0)30 6927804