February 2004

TTF Host Indonesia Seminar

The Timber Trade Federation has played host to a multi-stakeholder seminar of sixty people (Friday 6 February 2004) to discuss the sourcing of legal plywood from Indonesia and has obtained agreement from the Forest Industry Revitalisation Body (BRIK) that they will consider incorporating independent third party verification into their legality assessment system.

The seminar was part of the process start last July when the Federation launched its own Ten-Point Plan to maximise its market influence in sourcing legal plywood from the Indonesian marketplace.

Andy Roby who is project managing the Action Plan said, “ This was another important step in recognising that the UK trade’s confidence in Indonesia needs strengthening and that for the UK trade to remain involved, independent verification of  legality will be required. “

The Indonesian Government, a delegation from BRIK and the Indonesian forest industry, the Tropical Forest Trust, the UK’s International Development Department, Greenpeace, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Down to Earth as well as Indonesian and UK traders all actively participated in the meeting.   

Indonesian Forestry Minister, Dr Prakosa was due to be the keynote speaker at the seminar but because of travel difficulties he was unable to attend, but he does plan to visit the UK later this year.

For further information contact Mark O’Brien or visit www.ttf.co.uk

TTF Re-Iterate Demand For Legal Timber

The Timber Trade Federation has repeated its commitment to sourcing legal timber into the UK marketplace and called on all suppliers to take whatever steps prove necessary to fulfil this objective.

Responding to the Environmental Investigation Agency report “ Profit for Plunder “ alleging the smuggling of Indonesian timber into Malaysia, TTF Spokesman Andy Roby said, “ All supplier countries must attempt to conform to the requirements of the UK marketplace which increasingly emphasises the importance of verified legality.  Malaysia has made much progress in this regard but she needs to tighten up whatever loopholes exist within the current legal framework enabling the UK market to have confidence in its Malaysian supplies. “ 

For further information call Andy Roby or Mark O’Brien on 020 7930 1891