The Forest Products Commission as a member of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has been notified that the PEFC Council Board of Directors issued a statement on 4 March 2022, stating that all timber originating from Russia and Belarus is now classified as ‘conflict timber’ and therefore cannot be used in PEFC-certified products. This clarification is initially valid for six months.
Responsible Wood is liaising with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) to clarify the implications of the PEFC’s statement on the import of timber from Russia and Belarus, particularly in relation to the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012.
Advice is being sought from DAWE on whether timber from Russia and Belarus will be further restricted in Australia and New Zealand and what the implications are for timber that was enroute to Australia and New Zealand prior to the statement made on 4 March 2022.
The FPC will continue to provide updated information on the situation as it becomes available. You can find the PEFC council’s 4 March 2022 message here.
