Uncertainty remains

David Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK (TDUK), explains how the upcoming implementation of the European Deforestation Regulation will impact merchants and suppliers in the UK.

The EU Timber Regulation will end on 30 December, 2024, being replaced by the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for wood and wood products entering the EU market. This will place additional responsibilities on sawmills within the EU, and on suppliers from outside the EU who wish to sell wood products to the EU.

The current UK Timber Regulation (UKTR) will remain in place for all wood products being placed on the GB market. This means the existing exchange of information between overseas suppliers and GB wood buyers, which facilitates the UKTR due diligence process, will continue to be valid moving forward, at least until the new UK Government proposes any change in policy.

Based on wood consumption (15 million m³) only a small percentage (750,000m³) is exported, so most merchants will not need to make changes to comply with EUDR, unless they or their customers are exporting wood products, or products manufactured from wood, out to the EU. However, some merchant groups are likely to be moving or selling stocks of wood products from GB to their outlets or customers in NI – and they will need to watch out. 

GB wood buyers are currently subject to the UK Timber Regulation (and will continue to be so) but wood buyers in NI are subject to the EU Timber Regulation. These two regulations are, in practical and legal terms, identical. But what happens from 31^st December 2024?  

The EUDR is considered to be more onerous. In theory there should be no change as the Windsor framework promises unconditional and unfettered trade throughout the UK. But, with less than four months to go, the new UK government has given no indication about what the additional requirements in NI, if any, will be.

TDUK has been working hard to represent members’ interests and try to ensure that the Government has provided the necessary answers well ahead of the EUDR implementation date. We are currently seeking confirmation of the following:

• That there will continue to be no restrictions or additional requirements on the trade of wood products between GB and Northern Ireland (NI) and, specifically, that wood products placed on the NI market will not be required to meet the requirements of EUDR.
• What support the UK Government will provide to UK companies exporting wood products to EU member states to ensure they can comply with the EUDR requirements so there is no disruption of trade after 1 January 2025.

It’s important to note that only products defined in the scope of the EUDR will be required to meet the regulation when placed on the EU market. For wood products, this includes all products with commodity codes starting with 44, plus some other products.

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