August 2004
TTF Seek New Chief Executive
31 August 2004
The Timber Trade Federation is seeking a new Chief Executive to act as a spokesman for the industry and to take overall responsibility, in conjunction with the Governing Board, for Federation policy, strategy and operational activity. This will involve the effective management of human and other resources and ensure all targets are achieved within budget.
Candidates should have a good class degree, preferably an MBA or professional qualification and Board level experience of company management, finance and statutory requirements. Besides excellent communication and interpersonal skills you will need experience in dealing with the media and public speaking. Experience of dealing with Government and international contacts will prove an advantage as will knowledge of the timber industry.
Please send you CV with an indication of most recent salary to Mr J Tong, President, Timber Trade Federation, Clareville House, 26/27 Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EL.
For further information contact Caroline Ready on 020 7839 1891.
TTF Welcome Legislation Banning the Importation of Illegal Timber into the EU
31 August 2004
The TTF welcomes the new proposals by the European Commission to develop a voluntary FLEGT licensing scheme to control timber imports into the EU.
The TTF and its members have been at the forefront of private sector action to source legal timber, for example the work assessing the legality of its Indonesian suppliers, the instigation of an EU trade initiative, and also through its business-to-business supplier assessment and auditing work.
Most timber traded in the UK is legal and sustainable, but a small proportion comes from countries where illegal logging is a serious problem. The UK timber trade only wants to trade in legal timber and it recognises the need to control illegal timber imports.
There is still a lot of work to do with suppliers, on tracking systems and auditing protocols in order to establish sufficiently credible and effective controls at points of entry into the EU. The UK timber trade therefore wants to work closely with stakeholders to develop voluntary legality verification systems that are adapted to each producer country's conditions and that do not form a barrier to legitimate trade or divert trade to less discerning markets.
The TTF’s work is already being enhanced by our cooperation with the Dutch timber trade in SE Asia. TTF calls on other key markets and traders in the EU, USA, Japan and China to join these efforts to purchase only verified legal timber, and so maximise our buying power and simplify requirements for suppliers.
The TTF believes that EU legislation preventing the importation of illegal timber should be adopted as soon as practicably possible. We recognise that tracking and auditing systems must be tried and tested in many different situations, and be proven credible to all stakeholders.
For further information contact Andy Roby 020 7839 1891
Notes: The TTF Governing Board gave approval to this position on 20 August 2004.
TTF Meet Burma Campaign
31 August 2004
The Timber Trade Federation has met with officials of the Burma Campaign to be briefed on the campaign’s objectives and to discuss the issue of the UK trade in Burmese teak.
TTF Spokesman, Mark O’Brien said, “We have already warned our Member companies that trade in this material can attract controversy due to the links with forestry and logging and the military regime and the issues of corporate social responsibility that it generates.
We will continue to inform our Members of the situation in Burma but it is clear that the Burma Campaign will be increasingly focused on timber and wood products and that the risks of trading there increase proportionately.“
For further information contact Mark O’Brien on 020 7389 1891
Note:
- In 2002 Burmese exports to the UK were worth £979,000 according to HM Customs & Excise or 0.08% of total imports.
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