Timber Development UK (TDUK) has published a new trade note to help importers, merchants and suppliers understand how the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will apply to timber and timber products placed on the market in Northern Ireland.
The trade note outlines the regulation’s three core requirements and upcoming deadlines, stating that timber products must be deforestation-free, legally produced and supported by an appropriate Due Diligence Statement (DDS) before being placed on the Northern Ireland market or exported from it.
It explains the information operators are required to gather, including timber species, country of harvest, supplier and customer details, harvest-site geolocation data and evidence demonstrating both legal production and the absence of deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020. Businesses must then carry out a risk assessment, apply mitigation measures where necessary and submit a DDS through the EU’s TRACES information system.
The guidance also highlights that timber products moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland fall within the EUDR regime, meaning businesses should have the necessary due diligence information in place before goods are moved.
Alongside outlining the role of the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) as the competent authority for timber and wood products in Northern Ireland, the trade note includes practical advice for importers and merchants. This includes mapping supply chains to forest origin, obtaining geolocation data from suppliers, maintaining chain-of-custody records and preparing for inspections and audits.
TDUK is encouraging businesses to understand their position within the supply chain before trading, stressing that responsibilities under the regulation will depend on factors including Incoterms, who acts as the importer of record, customs arrangements and who first places products on the Northern Ireland market.
You can read the full Trade Note here by logging in to your TDUK account.
