In March 2013, the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into effect. Its aim was simple: to stop timber of unclear and possible illegal origin entering the European market.

The EUTR is good. But it could be better. As a review of the regulation is currently underway, here’s how I, along with many of my fellow importers and producers of timber, want the EU to improve it.*

Harmonise implementation across EU member states

Too often, illegal timber finds its way into EU member states because resources, training and coordination between countries are inadequate. We just don’t know, for example, how many operators have due diligence in place, or whether penalties – where they’re applied – are consistent across different states.

Broaden the scope of EUTR

Right now, the EUTR covers less than half the value of timber products available across the EU. True, sawn wood, flooring, pulp, paper and other less processed products all fall within the regulation’s remit. But consider all these items that aren’t: books, cards, magazines, chairs, DIY tools, tableware, toys, dog kennels, charcoal, clocks, wine racks, sports items, smoking pipes, clothes pegs, walking sticks, musical instruments... the list goes on.**

The scope of the EUTR must be broadened to include anything that could contain illegally-sourced timber.

All this matters because illegal logging is killing our forests and threatening the people that depend on them. It’s undermining fair competition, the development of legitimate business and their ability to provide sustainable employment.

It’s also bad news for wildlife. In the far east of Russia, the Amur tiger is endangered. In Borneo and Sumatra, illegal logging imperils the orangutan. In the Congo Basin, meanwhile, this illegitimate trade could spell the extinction of the forest elephant.**

There’s a big financial side to the argument, too. In developing countries, illegal logging is estimated to cause the ‘loss more than US$10 billion per year from public lands alone. Another US$5 billion is lost annually by governments due to evaded taxes, fees and other income that legal forestry would bring.’**

There’s huge public support across Europe for a real crackdown on illegal logging. Until recently, 73 per cent of Europeans were unaware illegally sourced timber was in products available across the EU. In the same YouGov survey, 77 per cent said they’d like to see the European Commission extend the scope of the EUTR to all wood-based products.**

That’s why, at Empatika, we’re calling on the UK and EU governments to close legal loopholes and complete the transition to a sustainable timber market.

So far this year, we’ve sourced over 95 per cent of our wood from a single main supplier, who buys only from chain of custody certified suppliers. We aim to buy all our timber and timber products from sustainable sources by 2020.

For more information, visit www.empatika.uk, like on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Pinterest.

Find out more about the WWF Forest Campaign.

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*WWF industry statement for the review of the EU Timber Regulation

**Illegal Timber in the EU, Why the EU Timber Regulation should be improved, WWF