WWF again urges the Commission to resolve these issues. "The requirements of Regulation 995 are valid for the entire European family, of which Bulgaria is also a part. Its ineffective implementation harms European companies who act responsibly and try to obey by the rules, and opens up possibilities for unfair competition. Especially for our country, if the Regulation is applied properly, it will help limit the illegal logging, which reaches ¼ of the total harvest "- said Neli Doncheva, head of the "Forests" in WWF-Bulgaria.
The Commission published its report after a consultation with concerned parties across the European Union on the effectiveness of the regulation. The report finds that the regulation is applied with long delays in some Member States, that there are not enough resources for its implementation, and that it should extend the scope of wood products because the regulation covers only 41% of them. Many European businesses in the forestry, paper, furniture, "DIY", and construction support WWF's call for improved regulation.
"The European Commission holds the key to prevention of illegal timber products on the European market” - pointed Andreas Baumueller, Head of "Natural resources" to the European Office of the WWF. “This report clearly shows that even after more than two years there is still a risk for European citizens to be buying products from illegally harvested timber. It is necessary for all wood products to be swiftly included in the scope of regulation and all 28 Member States to apply that regulation consistently, with appropriate checks on operators and effective penalties."
The need for better monitoring and enforcement of the regulation is illustrated by the case of the timber company "Schweighofer". Last year, WWF Austria filed a complaint against "Schweighofer" based on the new evidence provided by the agency for investigation of environmental crimes (Environmental Investigation Agency), which reveal that the company handles large quantities of illegally logged wood from the Romanian forests and sells it throughout the European Union.
We would like to remind that on 19 October 2015 WWF, together with IKEA and Kingfisher, hosted a meeting in Brussels to limit the illegal logging in Europe. The meeting was attended by interested parties from across Europe, including much of the 72 business and trade organizations which had signed a public statement in support of stronger regulation.
The European Commission may bring to an end the trade with illegal timber
