This snapshot taken on 23/10/2008, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.

Environmental protection

Homepage > Environmental Protection> Sustainable forests & Illegal logging > Government procurement

Sustainable forests and illegal logging - Government procurement

The UK imports around 80 per cent of the timber it consumes. Imports are likely to increase if the UK energy sector significantly increases consumption of biofuels. It should therefore be expected of UK consumers to purchase timber responsibly.

UK Government timber procurement policy

The UK Government recognises that consumer demand can send a powerful signal to the forest products market. Since 2000, UK Government departments have sought to procure products made from timber that is legally harvested and grown in sustainably managed forests or plantations.

In the years that the policy has been operational, the volume of verified legal or sustainable timber entering the country has steadily increased and now stands at 60 per cent of all imports. Virtually all of this verified timber has been certified as meeting the standards set by voluntary schemes such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade scheme is working to address the scarcity of verified tropical timber.

Currently, central departments in England only purchase legally harvested timber as a minimum. Government contractors must, if requested, produce independently verified evidence of legal harvesting. Earlier this year, Ministers announced a step-change in the policy, in line with our objective of supporting sustainable forest management:

The Government is keen to harmonise its timber procurement policy with those adopted by other consuming countries in the wake of the UK lead. A standard approach with similar requirements from member states would make it easier for producers and traders to understand and meet demand. Within the UK, the Government is developing a new promotional strategy that will encourage local authorities to adopt timber procurement policies. The Sustainable Buildings Code and the Olympic Development Authority’s procurement policy recognise the merit of responsible timber purchasing.

Guidance for public sector procurement staff

To help public sector buyers and their suppliers implement the procurement policy, Defra has set up the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET), which provides a helpline and case specific advice free of charge. .

A key output from CPET has been the setting of criteria for assessing the credibility of forest certification schemes and other forms of evidence. The first assessments were undertaken in 2004 and resulted in some of the schemes making significant changes to their requirements for chain of custody, standard setting and certification.

CPET provides Defra with technical advice on forest management and is currently working with construction companies to improve sub-contractors’ performance, site supervision and performance reports.

Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT): a summary

The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative allows the EU to enter into bilateral Voluntary Partnership Agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging and improve their forest management. This assistance will include help in establishing a system to identify legal products and license them for export. Once established, unlicensed products from partner countries will not be given access to the EU market.

See also

Page last modified: 5 November 2007
Page published 28 June 2002

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs