Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The new EU timber regulation is now in effect. It does not require any further national legislation to become law in this country. It is part of a package of measures aimed at ensuring all products containing wood placed on the market in the EU are from legally harvested timber. It applies to wood and wood products being placed for the first time on the EU market. It counters the trade in illegally harvested timber and timber products by imposing three key obligations on the sector: placing illegally harvested timber and products derived from such timber on the EU market, for the first time, is prohibited; those EU operators who place timber products on the EU market for the first time are required to exercise due diligence; and those traders who buy or sell timber and timber products already on the market are required to keep information about their suppliers and customers to make timber easily traceable.

Each member state is, however, obliged to introduce national legislation that will lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of the regulation. This process is at an advanced stage in my Department and I can assure the Deputy that I will lay out effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties, where appropriate, to ensure compliance.

I have charged my officials with carrying out a number of functions over the coming period to ensure compliance with these new rules. They will provide information and guidance to the industry through use of the web and seminars or talks. They will gather technical data to provide a knowledge database to take informed decisions and to advise on compliance. They will plan for enforcement though various actions such as site visits and information sampling. They will co-operate effectively with both the European Commission and other member states to combat cross-border infringements.

As the Deputy can appreciate, the process is at an early stage with only four countries now with the national penalties specified. My officials have been in close contact with key players across Europe already with a view to establishing best practice in a number of areas. Department officials have established strong links regarding information sharing with two key trading member states and are committed to adding to this number shortly. Ireland, like all member states, will be asked by the Commission to account for its implementation of the process by a formal reporting and review procedure laid down in the regulation.

I should point out that it is expected that for the majority of those affected, this regulation will simply involve the reaffirmation of their current business practice. It will primarily require them to ensure their paper trail is in a format which can be checked to verify compliance. The key change this regulation will bring about is to impose a greater responsibility on those placing timber on the market to ensure their products have been legally harvested.

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