July 2002

TTF response to the House of Commons report "Buying Time for Forests"

The TTF supports the Environmental Audit Committee's* acceptance of the UK government's timber procurement policy to "actively seek to buy from sustainable and legal sources."

Giving evidence to the Committee, the Environment Minister Mr. Meacher said "…the words "actively seek to" mean that you expect buyers to make every possible effort…in this jungle to try to achieve the required policy. Given the present state of timber supply across the world you do have to accept that the standards you would like to apply will not necessarily, automatically apply. All that you can do is actively seek to implement those higher standards." The timber trade encourages government to develop policy incentives to discourage discrimination against suppliers from other countries.

The TTF welcomes the government's view to recognise all credible certification schemes on the basis that, "the procurement rules do not allow public sector buyers to demand eco-labelled products without giving suppliers an opportunity to find equivalent means of proving that their products meet the technical and quality criteria specified."

Written evidence was submitted describing the Environmental Code of Practice, the Environmental Timber Purchasing Policy, involvement in the development of Government's Timber Procurement Policy and the Forest Industries Sector Strategy. Our involvement in developing a bilateral agreement between the UK and Indonesian governments was congratulated. We hope to work more closely with the UK government in developing such initiatives with other countries.

The report can be found at:
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/eahome.htm

For further information call Jessica Faleiro on 0207 8391891 or email jfaleiro@ttf.co.uk

* The Environmental Audit Committee is appointed by the House of Commons and published its 6th report on 24th July 2002 evaluating Government's progress in procuring timber from sustainable and legal sources.