The Thai timber and wood product industry will be hurt by the European Union’s strict new regulations on timber imports according to the president of the Thai Parawood Association (TPA). The EU has introduced legislation banning the import of illegally felled timber. Source: The Bangkok Post
TPA president Suthin Pornchaisuree said the association would meet with the Commerce Ministry’s central committee on the prices of goods and services to discuss how to deal with the EU’s new timber regulations, which will take effect in
March 2013.
Companies will be required to conduct due diligence to ensure that timber exported to the EU has been harvested legally and sustainably.
Mr Suthin said the regulation would affect Thailand’s exports of wood products such as furniture, and the pulp and paper industry.
The new rules cover the growing and felling of trees, transport, sawmills and other businesses involved in making timber products.
There is concern that the procedures used by many Thai companies to produce timber may not meet the strict requirements set by the EU.
Wood-related industries will have to make adjustments to comply with the new rules in order to maintain their foothold in the EU market, Mr Suthin said.
Suthin also said that Thailand’s exports of parawood and parawood products are worth about 40 billion baht a year to the economy.
So far Indonesia has signed only a voluntary partnership agreement to comply with the new EU regulations, while Thailand and Malaysia have decided to adopt a wait-and-see stance.
The TPA president said all countries exporting timber to the EU would have to sign agreements to comply with the new EU timber regulations within the next two years.
