Illegal logging

In spring 2015, the Commission undertook a survey of all stakeholders as regards the effects of the Regulation. The main issues raised in the 242 responses to a detailed questionnaire, were the following :

Regulation 995/2010 is a useful instrument to prevent illegal logging.
There is a risk that illegal exports from timber-producing countries will just look for markets other than the EU; however, such a risk has to be accepted, all the more as the USA and Australia have adopted legislation similar to Regulation 995/2010. It is regrettable, though, that not all finished wood products are covered, as China and other third countries, where less restrictions on illegal logging exist, export such finished products into the EU. As the FLEGT-licensing system is not yet operational in most countries with which voluntary partnership agreements were concluded, the EU should make more efforts to promote these systems.

Regulation 995/2010 has not (yet) established a level playing field within the EU.
The application of the Regulation also depends on the number and seriousness of checks and controls by the competent authorities of Member States, which vary considerably in quantity and intensity. Official, comparable data on checks and sanctions are not available, and national competent authorities do not actively disclose enough relevant information.

Also the requirements for a due diligence system show considerable differences in Member States. Sanctions foreseen in the national legislations are very different; there is little exchange of information and a limited amount of cooperation between public authorities. It is too early to assess whether imports of timber are more frequently oriented towards Member States which are known to be less strict in controls, though some signs of such a trend exist.