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Is your wood not "wrong"?

Recently, market surveillance inspections on compliance with the rules according to the European Timber Regulation (EU) No. 995/2010 have been intensified. Do you sell timber or timber products that fall within the scope of the Regulation? Then it is important that you are aware of your obligations.

The European Timber Regulation

The European Timber Regulation, also known as the European Timber Regulation (EUTR), has been in effect since March 2013. The main purpose of the regulation is to ensure that no illegal timber or timber products are traded within the EU.

Any operator placing timber or timber products on the European market for the first time must comply with the requirements of the Regulation. In short, this means that you must be able to provide guarantees of the legal origin of your products by applying a system of due diligence.

HS codes

Products containing paper, cardboard, wood fiber or wood may fall within the scope of the Timber Regulation. Identification is made on the basis of the HS (customs goods code) code. The full list of HS codes of in-scope products can be found in the annex of the regulation. Some examples of in-scope product groups:

  • Furniture for living room and bedroom;
  • Picture frames and mirror frames;
  • Paper (including craft paper, notebooks & disposable dinnerware);
  • Crates, drums and similar means of packaging made of wood.

System of due diligence

To prove the legality of the timber or wood product, you need to collect the necessary documentation. Here it is important to map the entire supply chain, from the forest to the final product. Essential documents include:

  • Invoices;
  • Business licenses;
  • Felling permits;
  • Certificates.

A risk assessment should then be performed based on the information obtained. The risk of illegality is always "negligible" or "not negligible." In the latter case, you either have to start reducing the risk, or you are not allowed to market the products in the EU.

In addition to identifying your product, gathering documentation and conducting a risk assessment, it is also important that you have a consistent policy in the form of a documented procedure. Consider:

  • Responsibilities of departments or personnel;
  • Periodic quality checks (for example, by sampling documentation or ordering lab tests to identify wood species or origin);
  • Reviews and updates to the system.

Need support?

Précon has a team of professionals with years of experience in establishing regulatory product safety requirements for multiple retailers and wholesale businesses. Do you need advice or support in setting up and implementing your due diligence system? Précon Quality Services can help you with this. Contact us at +31 30 65 66 010 or info@precongroup.com.

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