Government Performing Badly On Illegal Logging

10 July 2007

A furniture industry leader has criticised the Australian Government on its poor performance over the illegal timber imports issue.
The chief executive of the Furniture industry Association of Australia Martin Lewis said there had been insufficient effective government intervention and that industry intervention was not enough on its own.
“We know that dodgy imported furniture and furniture-related products are unsafe, not durable and manufactured from inferior, illegally-sourced timber,” Lewis said. “Predatory pricing has also continued to drive down prices for good quality Australian-made products.”
“Imported furniture or components should at least be required to comply with the same Australian standards and codes that local manufacturer have to meet.”
Lewis was speaking at a recent workshop in Sydney, convened by the Australian Timber Importers Federation (ATIF).
ATIF executive officer Kevin Collison said the way to the future was for industry to work together to deal with the serious challenges that illegal logging and unsustainable forest management practices presented to future timber supplies.
General manager, forestry, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Tony Bartlett said the Government was committed to working with regional countries to assist in improving issues related to the legality of logs sourced and the sustainability of forest management practices.
“However, we can’t set the bar too high straight away.”
Bartlett said the Government was close to finalising its policy on illegal logging following the preparation of a public discussion paper, consideration of submissions received and consultation with stakeholders.
“The first fundament step will be to ensure that all wood products are sourced from legal operations,” he said. “Issues like sustainability will then need to be addressed, so it will be a step-by-step process.”
The UK Timber Trade Federation’s (TTF) head of environment and corporate social responsibility Andy Roby detailed mechanisms developed in the UK to tackle the importing of timber produced from illegal sources. Roby is in Australia at the invitation of DAFF to advise industry and government on UK experience with the issue.
The most recent report by the TTF shows 56% of wood and wood products imported into the UK are certified. The UK is the forth largest importer of timber behind the US, Japan and China. However, about 80% of all imports are softwoods from Northern Hemisphere temperate forest countries.
Roby said that the major ‘market driver’ in the UK had been customer expectations, especially the bigger DIY stores, larger corporate and government procurement policies, and the prospect of the loss of market share to non-timber building materials.
“Because the supply chain is long and complex, partnerships with supply countries is essential in tackling illegal logging."

NZPMA Conference Registrations Open

Registrations open this month for the New Zealand Pine Manufacturers Association (NZPMA) annual conference, to be held at New Plymouth 11-12 October.
The conference theme – Scaling New Heights – follows on from 2006 when speakers sought to challenge delegates, encouraging them to consider doing things differently, and in the process strive to move from single product offerings to market-focused solutions.
“Most pine manufacturers will have experienced upswings in the prices of their feedstock, fuelled by the insatiable appetites of China, Korea and India,” NZPMA president Tony Clifford said.
“Recent softening of in-market log prices and increases in sea freight log rates are just short-term blips on a super cycle of increasing demand for raw materials in the new manufacturing engine rooms of the world.”
Clifford said the integration of two billion new people into the global economy – not only in China and India, but also Brazil, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam – would continue to fuel demand for all raw materials.
“As manufacturers we need to position ourselves to mitigate this. At the risk of generalising, I would estimate that lumber as a raw material constitutes 60-70 percent of costs for a typical pine manufacturer,” Clifford said.
Tel: 64-3-544 1086. Email: info@pine.net.nz

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