Responsible Purchasing Policy Consultation Launched
21 November 2003

The Timber Trade Federation has embarked on a major review of its environmental purchasing policy in response to a number of changes emerging in the timber-purchasing environment. These include the UK Government's Timber Procurement Policy and the European Union initiative to promote legal and sustainable timber imports into the EU marketplace.

The Responsible Purchasing Policy will involve its signatories in sourcing timber in a systematic way that will be subject to independent auditing. The higher the risk associated with procuring a particular parcel of timber the more important it will be to provide appropriate evidence of its probity.

A small project management group covering a cross section of member companies has so far undertaken the development of the Responsible Purchasing Policy. The Policy has been presented to the Federation's various commodity divisions and now the wider membership will be consulted before its finalised and launched. Part of this exercise will involve the Policy being piloted by individual companies during the middle of 2004, prior to its formal launch at the end of 2004.

For further information call Andy Roby on 020 7839 1891