March 2004

TTF Rejects Report of Indonesian Plywood Ban

The UK Timber Trade Federation has rejected the report that (Jakarta Post 10 March 2004) the UK had ever banned imports of Indonesian wood products and that that ban had now been lifted and described the reported comments of the Forest Industry Revitalization Agency (BRIK) regarding a ban as misleading and inaccurate.

There has never been a ban on Indonesian wood imports, although three companies have suspended trading, pending evidence that their suppliers can provide regarding the legality of their exports.  The UK trade needs to have confidence in the legality of supplies from Indonesia and will continue to work hard to achieve this objective.

At a meeting held on 6 February 2004, BRIK and the Indonesian Forestry Ministry agreed to consider improvements in the BRIK system particularly regarding the introduction of independent verification of legality.  

A TTF Spokesman Mark O’Brien said, “ The UK Timber Trade Federation would never support any bans or boycotts of suppliers, believing that market forces are the best way to achieve the goals of legality and sustainability.  Different suppliers have to respond to demands made on them in any given marketplace.”  

The UK Timber Trade Federation, the Indonesian Forestry Ministry, the UK International Development Department, BRIK, the Tropical Forest Trust, Greenpeace, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Down To Earth and representatives of the UK and Indonesian timber trade all attended the meeting on 6 February 2004.

For further information contact Mark O’Brien on 020 7389 1891