The 30th November 2014 saw the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 come into force.
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 is all about due diligence with importers of regulated timber or timber products needing to assess and manage the risk that the timber in their products has not been illegally logged before importing.
Since the introduction of this new law in November 2014, the Department of Agriculture (Quarantine) deployed a “soft start” to ensure that the importers that the new regulation affected were employing good industry practices. This soft start was to continue for eighteen months after the introduction date and was to end in May 2016.
The Department of Agriculture have issued their latest E-Update which includes the advice that the soft start will be extended until late 2016, early 2017.
This being said, it is very important to take this time to ensure that the steps that you take for due diligence are thorough and are compliant with the Department of Agriculture.
After this soft start period, the Department of Agriculture will be penalising companies that are found to be not fully compliant with the due diligence requirements.
If you require any further information on due diligence and the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation, please kindly contact Phil Gray, EES Customs Manager.
