Australian illegal logging e-update

Friday 20 Dec 2024

 
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment Act 2024 (Amendment Act) and associated Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules (the Rules) will come into effect on 3 March 2025.

What does this mean for importers and processors?

Your due diligence requirements will change on 3 March 2025. Until then, existing requirements remain in place.

The Rules will replace the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 (the Regulation) and introduce changes to due diligence requirements. We will provide detailed guidance material to support you under the new arrangements, however it is up to you to understand your responsibilities as an importer or processor of regulated timber and/or timber products/raw logs.

The fundamental steps of your due diligence requirements will remain unchanged. This includes a written due diligence system, information gathering, risk assessment, risk mitigation and record keeping. The requirement to respond to a request for information from the department also remains the same. However, there are key changes to some steps:
  • The three risk assessment methods in the current Regulation (Country Specific Guidelines or State Specific Guidelines, Timber Legality Frameworks and Regulated Risk Factors) will be replaced with  two distinct risk assessment pathways for:
    1. Certified timber and timber products/raw logs 
    2. Non-certified timber and timber products/raw logs.
  • There will be a new repeat due diligence exception. This will allow you to rely on a previous risk assessment and risk mitigation measures if you import or process the same timber, timber products, or raw logs from the same supplier within a 12 month period. You can use this exception regardless of the certification status of your timber or timber products.
  • There will be an exemption for processors who are also the person/entity who harvested the raw log.
The new laws will also include a future requirement to  provide notice to the department before importing or processing regulated timber, timber products or raw logs. This requirement will not come into effect on 3 March 2025, as it relies on a new IT system that is still being developed. We will update you as this progresses.

Look out for guidance material

We are developing new guidance material and webpage content to assist you in meeting your due diligence requirements from 3 March 2025. Rest assured; this guidance material will be available to help you when the updated laws come into effect. We will provide updates as this new content progresses.

More >>

Source: Freight & Trade Alliance


Share |


Copyright 2004-2024 © Innovatek Ltd. All rights reserved.