September 19th, 2024
In a robust move to halt the international trade of illegally harvested timber, the New Zealand government has enacted a new law that prevents the import of such timber, bolstering the reputation of New Zealand's own timber products in the process. The Forests (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill became an Act of Parliament on 17 May.
Forestry Minister Peeni Henare articulated the importance of this legislation. “The trade in illegally harvested timber is a major problem in the world today. Approximately 15 to 30% of the global timber trade involves illegally harvested timber. Illegal logging not only destroys forests and degrades ecosystems, but it also strips the economic livelihood of local communities and responsible companies," said Minister Henare.
The new Act endorses a legal harvest assurance system for timber products, obligating forest owners, log traders, primary processors, timber exporters and importers to confirm the timber they handle has been legally harvested.
“It provides importers and our domestic processors and exporters with a government assurance framework to support their businesses that will demonstrate that they have completed due diligence on the legal harvest of the timber products they are trading," elaborated Henare.
In the wake of an increasing volume of imported timber products, the Act also aims to ensure these imports are sourced from legally harvested forests overseas.
Highlighting the global concern for illegally harvested timber, Minister Henare noted that major trading partners such as Australia, United States, the European Union, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Japan and Republic of Korea have either implemented or are developing their own legislation to prevent the trade of illegally harvested timber.
“This assurance system will bring us in line with these countries to ensure the protection of New Zealand’s forestry and wood processing sector. We export nearly 85% of our timber products to these countries. Without a legislative scheme for legal harvest, we run the risk that we can no longer export to these markets," he added.
The Ministry for Primary Industries and Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forestry Service will oversee the implementation of the Act, allowing up to three years for commencement and a further 12 months for compliance.