Strengthening timber trade with new assurance system
Friday 29 Nov 2024
The NZ Government is delivering on its commitment to combat
trade in illegally harvested timber, with consultation starting today on
operational details to implement New Zealand’s legal harvest
assurance system, Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced this
week.
“The system will limit the risk of importing illegally harvested
timber and provide the international market with confidence in New
Zealand’s timber and timber products,” Mr McClay
says. “As markets increasingly demand verifiable assurances,
this system will help us maintain and expand access to higher-value
opportunities worldwide.”
The legal harvest assurance system is designed to:
- Reduce the risk of trading in timber sourced from illegal
harvesting.
- Provide exporters with a streamlined pathway to meet global market
requirements.
- Ensure timber imported into New Zealand meets legal harvest
standards.
- Support international efforts to combat illegal logging and
strengthen global supply chains.
The Government is inviting input on the operational details of the
system, which is set to be fully implemented by August 2027. Feedback
gathered during the consultation will shape the final recommendations
and ensure the system is practical and effective for all stakeholders.
Consultation is open until 26 February 2025, and
details are available on the Ministry
for Primary Industries’ website.
Source: NZ Government
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