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UK GOVERNMENT’S TIMBER PROCUREMENT

POLICY

Bob AndrewDepartment for Environment, Food and

Rural Affairs

July 2007

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POLICY – JULY 2007

• Central government departments must seek to buy timber from sustainable and legal sources

• Legal timber is a condition of contract• Tenderers can choose to offer sustainable

timber as a variant • Evidence of compliance will be

independently verified if requested

Implementation

• 55% of timber imports certified

• Demand low – no incentive for trade

• Current policy too flexible?

• Sub contractors not engaged

• Site supervision inconsistent

• Contract management inconsistent

Monitoring

• CPET Pilot underway

• Working with construction supply chains

• Checking contracts and procedures

• Report to Defra end September 2007

• Recommendations to include reporting

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POLICY - 2009

• Central departments will demand only timber and timber products made from trees grown and legally harvested in sustainably managed forests or:

• Timber and timber products licensed under FLET voluntary partnership agreements

• This is an interim policy until 2015

POLICY - 2015

• Central departments will purchase only timber and timber products made from trees grown and legally harvested in sustainably managed forests

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POST APRIL 2009 IMPACTS

• Legal compliance alone no longer acceptable • Exception for FLEGT Licences a challenge• Small forest owners a challenge • Definition of SFM – appropriate? • Legal compliance as assurance of SFM?• Consultation 05 July until 27 September

Promotion

• Harmonisation challenging

• Social criteria needs resolution

• Wide gaps between some policies

• Many UK Local Authorities not engaged

• Chatham House sampling authorities in NE