Legality requirements for wood import in the EU: Who wins, who loses?

Brusselaers, Jan; Buysse, Jeroen

doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102338

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The two main international forest certification schemes (i.e., the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, PEFC, and the Forest Stewardship Council, FSC) substantially aligned their standards with EUTR requirements [77]. Thus, holding an FSC or PEFC certificate considerably lowers the risks of illegality and ultimately contains the costs of implementing EUTR and, in particular, developing, running, and maintaining a Due Diligence System [78]. In the Western Balkan region, forest certification "is, to a certain extent, perceived as a guarantee for the legality of wood operations and origin" [18]; even though forest certification does not ensure a green lane against EUTR requirements and its scope goes beyond just meeting legality requirements.…”

Section: Forest Certification As a Due-diligence Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alignment of National Forest Policy Frameworks with the EU Timber Regulation Requirements: Insights from Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Radosavljević

Masiero

Rogelja

et al. 2023

Forests

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The Western Balkans represent a priority area for improving forest legality monitoring systems in line with the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). However, research on EUTR implementation in Western Balkan countries is still sporadic with a limited geographical scope; therefore, the preparedness of forestry sector actors for the EUTR in the region is largely unknown. The main objective of this study is to determine to what extent the forest policy frameworks of Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) are aligned with the EUTR requirements. To achieve this aim, we applied a qualitative content analysis of policy documents identified via an expert-based approach. Our results show that both countries have well-developed policy frameworks addressing illegal logging and preventing illegal activities in forestry, especially through dedicated action plans. Key actors in both countries are public, including the ministries responsible for forestry, public forest enterprises, and forestry inspectorates. The forestry sector in Montenegro is facing significant changes due to the termination of forest concessions and the reorganization of the management of state forests, including forest certification. The Republic of Srpska has relatively well-established institutional bodies for EUTR implementation but, in some cases, insufficient exchange of information and cooperation among them. Our findings indicate that the forestry sectors in Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (as well as in Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, as per previous research) are dynamic, undergoing various changes, so there is room for improvement in terms of capacities (e.g., human, technological, infrastructural), legal responsibilities, and information access and availability. With an increasing focus on “deforestation-free” commodities within the EU and global policy arena, a new, more demanding, and broader regulation is expected at the EU level, replacing the EUTR. The incoming regulation will expand existing EUTR requirements, likely posing severe challenges to many EU member countries. This could be even more challenging for countries with less developed or advanced systems to enforce legality requirements, including Western Balkan countries.

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Section: Forest Certification As a Due-diligence Toolmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alignment of National Forest Policy Frameworks with the EU Timber Regulation Requirements: Insights from Montenegro and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Radosavljević

Masiero

Rogelja

et al. 2023

Forests

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“…According to a growing body of literature, EUTR incurs in some degree of bureaucracy and places disproportionate burdens on specific actors along with production networks (Maryudi et al, 2020). Traceability obligations and due diligence requirements for European operators (entailing access to information on imported timber, risk assessment procedures, risk mitigation measures and procedures) are not only tedious but also costly since they imply an extra workload introducing accurate documentation (Brusselaers and Buysse, 2021;Giurca and Jonsson, 2015). It follows that implementing timber traceability, due diligence systems, and corresponding sanctions certainly requires appropriate capacity and resources in terms of finances, personnel, expertise and technical equipment, both for target groups (operators, traders) and for Competent Authorities (Gavrilut et al, 2016).…”

Section: Eutr Enforcement At the National Level: Issues And Opportuni...mentioning

confidence: 99%