Share your thoughts to help shape the future of sustainability practices! Preferred by Nature is inviting interested stakeholders to provide feedback on the revised version of the Sustainability…

Scientific testing techniques to identify the species and verify the geographic origin of commodities can be a…

The EU finally reached an agreement today on…

During the recent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) General Assembly, Phil Guillery, Executive Director of World Forest ID, took some moments to talk with…

Are you a company importing wood or wooden products and placing it for sale on the European market? If yes, then you have most likely heard of or are already working with the requirements in the…

With a new anti-deforestation regulation in the pipeline, the EU is turning up pressure on timber and other commodity operators. How will it affect your business? 

In early April, Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™) decided to suspend certificates in armed conflict areas of Ukraine. To support certificate…

The EU ban on timber exports from Russia and Belarus is a severe blow to the global market for sustainable timber and biomass. Businesses and governments will face significant challenges, says…

FSC™, PEFC and SBP have conducted risk assessments and provided clarifications on…

Yet another year has passed. Yet another year with challenges and exciting developments. 2021 was not an easy year. COVID has continued to turn our work and our lives upside down, but nevertheless…

Preferred by Nature has introduced a comprehensive timber legality toolkit to help forest owners, timber traders and processors in Vietnam to ensure compliance to the FLEGT-VPA requirements in the…

Preferred by Nature has published a new guide to provide an explanation why EU buyers might be asking questions about the legality of wood and wood-based products and give some tips on how to make…

To strengthen due diligence implementation in Vietnam, Preferred by Nature and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) have launched a free e-…

Backed by years of experience of working in the sustainability sector and in over 100 countries, Preferred by Nature has contributed to the development of 24 out of the 50 country profiles…

The world’s second-largest timber exporter may seem a challenge to businesses looking for a new and risk-free supply of sustainable wood. However, there are efficient ways of…

The People’s Republic of China plays a crucial role in the global supply chain for wood products, and many companies rely on the country’s vast manufacturing…

Preferred by Nature has published a new guide for the…

A new update of the Sourcing Hub’s Risk Assessment for timber legality in China is currently in public…

LIFE Legal Wood to launch free online workshops to update wood product professionals on the EUTR.

INTERVIEW: For decades nations have been signing international decrees and pledges to stop deforestation, but to little avail: Primary forests are still disappearing at an…

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged the spread of corruption within the forest authorities and promised reforms. Unfortunately, there is room for influence,…

Preferred by Nature has launched a guide for practitioners to understand the impact on wood and wood products trade following the UK’s departure from the EU.

Two months after we shifted to remote audits, our auditors reflect on the challenges they have encountered, and steps taken to address these and help develop robust remote audits for a post-…

Never before has auditing been faced with such overwhelming challenges, but remote auditing, risk management and client goodwill are making it all possible.…

Ukraine’s timber industry is marred by illegal logging, bark beetles and corruption. While FSC certificates have been booming in an effort by the forest industry to increase sales to the EU, a …

Compagnie Forestière de Transformation (CFT) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recently obtained third-party legality certification for…

In July 2019, a shipment of padoek,…

A new partnership agreement between NEPCon and Imaflora will expand LegalSource certification offerings to Brazil, with Imaflora conducting LegalSource assessments in the…

The new CMPC (…

Updated: 16 October 2019 

With less than a month to go before Brexit becomes effective, we are closely monitoring any changes that may affect timber companies…

The Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) is the Competent Authority responsible for…

Questions and answers related to the NEPCon and RA-Cert union.

October 1 marks the official joining of RA-Cert with NEPCon to unify their credible sustainability certification services at a global scale, engage widely with a diverse range of stakeholders, and…

If you are importing timber into the EU, the US or to Australia, you must exercise "Due diligence". This means minimising the risk that you are placing timber on the market that was harvested,…

NEPCon is encouraging EU-based companies working in the timber sector to share their experience with Due Diligence and the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).…

This year we have significantly increased the number of training courses offered in Asia and Russia. The training schedule…

The combined organisation will provide credible sustainability certification services at a global scale, engage with wide and diverse stakeholders, and productively contribute to the development…

The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) set out in 2013 to target companies importing timber and do something about the problem of illegal logging that rapidly destroys the world’s forests. In spite of…

The Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act is akin to the EU Timber Regulation and the US Lacey Act. It came into force in 2012 and was reviewed in 2017. The end to the “soft start” took…

The never-ending conflict around the Białowieża forest has escalated to the level that it may challenge the certification of all state forests in Poland. It involves an…

Today, we're releasing the NEPCon Sourcing Hub, the biggest and most detailed collection of forest-related risk assessments that have ever been published. 

Your supplier has given you some documents that appear to show that the timber they’re selling to you was legally harvested. But how do you know if the documents are genuine or not?

Meeting the due diligence legality requirements of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) can be a challenge. But there’s help at hand as we’re running some free training courses this autumn. The…

Are you thinking of going to the Timber Expo at the NEC in Birmingham, UK this year? It’s on from 10-12 October. If so, look out for us! 

The UK Timber Trade Federation decided in March 2017 to make it mandatory for all their members to get wooden panels from outside the EU independently tested to verify what species they are made…

The Danish Competent Authority last week required seven companies to make improvements to their due diligence systems if they are to sell teak imported from Myanmar on the EU market. The case…

Copenhagen (17 March 2017) - Are you obliged by the EU Timber Regulation to set up a due diligence system to minimise the risk that you are placing timber on the market that has been harvested,…

Today, NEPCon releases a new version of our LegalSource standard. Download it here.

Today, we publish the first in our new series of thematic articles on the EU Timber Regulation as part of our project ‘Support Legal Timber Trade’.  

A recent court case from Sweden helps clarify the level of due diligence required by companies looking to place timber from Myanmar on the EU market.

The study “Supply Chain Mapping of Malaysian Timber and Wood-based Industries” seeks to provide an overview of the Malaysian timber trade and offer insights into specific supply chains in the…

On 30 August 2016, NEPCon and our Vietnamese partner SFMI launched an online training platform on FLEGT - the EU’s programme aimed at combatting illegal logging, improving forest management and…

Hanoi (30 August 2016) – Today NEPCon and SFMI launch an online training platform providing knowledge and ready-to-use tools on timber legality for Vietnamese timber enterprises and relevant…

The EFTA Surveillance Authority has recognised NEPCon as a Monitoring Organisation (MO) in the European Economic Area (EEA) countries. 

Danish furniture importer Philip Rafn of Furnhouse can testify to the serious work that it takes to comply with the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). Even so, he finds the investment made sense, in…

FSC’s ambitious project to map the global risk of unacceptable forest activities has reached a new milestone. With the first 20 countries almost completed, FSC now continues with 33 more. China…

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Despite tough challenges, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon are working hard to deliver the   assurance of timber legality required by their…

The European Court of Auditors has called for the EU FLEGT Programme to change gear in order to achieve tangible results faster. NEPCon forest legality expert Christian Sloth shares his thoughts…

Since the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into force in 2013, timber testing has evolved to become a key due diligence tool. Industries, authorities and NGOs   increasingly turn to the scientists…

NEPCon has published the first four in a series of free, user-friendly Forestry Risk Profiles. Each covering one country, the profiles include information helping companies to assess and address…

The Malaysian Sarawak State Forest Department and Sarawak’s “Big Six” timber companies have made a first move in their plan to have their forest operations certified by 2017. One of the first…

Kuala Lumpur (30 July 2015) – The fact that Malaysian timber industry should be able to respond to increasing demands for information on timber legality as a result of the current EUTR review was…

A review of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) is currently underway. NEPCon is engaging in the public consultation to help improve the effectiveness of this landmark legislation. Here we share our…

Status of the EUTR two years in. The presentation from the seminar.

The Dutch energy sector and a group of NGOs have signed an agreement on sustainable biomass used for co-firing in Dutch power plants. The deal effectively provides a green lane for FSC certified…

Our FLEGT project in Vietnam has launched the first tools in a due diligence toolbox for timber industries in export countries.  

 FSC has published the first results of centralised risk assessments covering the top 20 countries for companies sourcing controlled wood (CW). The evaluations released for consultation include…

The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) has been in force for two years on 3 March 2015. Is this landmark legislation causing the impacts envisioned by supporters and critics alike? NEPCon takes stock and…

An investigation by the UK competent authority has revealed serious issues with EUTR compliance amongst UK companies importing Chinese plywood. The results point towards the need for EUTR-specific…

Transparency International has released the 2014 figures for the perceived corruption level in most of the world's countries. Gain an overview of the changes and their implications for legal and…

A new legal regulation has kicked in, obliging Australian importers to meet due diligence requirements similar to those of the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).

A recent study estimates that 90 % of Cambodian timber products are derived from forest conversion, a fact that speaks to the country’s rapid loss of forest cover. The main drivers of…

After more than 10 years of implementation, the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan has achieved tremendous results. In particular, it has raised the global focus…

The FSC Controlled Wood (CW) system is facing a major makeover that will align the FSC system further with legal frameworks such as the EUTR. It will also benefit companies sourcing CW through…

On 1 March 2014, NEPCon and our Vietnamese partner Sustainable Forest Management Institute (SFMI) launched a new project. The aim is to equip Vietnamese small and medium sized enterprises with the…

An analysis published by Forest Trends explores the ramifications of the recent Russian Roundwood Act with regard to legal timber trade.

Timber confiscations in Germany demonstrate that relying on official-looking documents alone for EUTR compliance can be dicey. Such documentation can rarely stand alone when the timber comes from…

The Global Forest Registry team is compiling lists of laws applying to timber harvesting and trade in many of the world’s countries. Applicable legislation is crucial for risk assessments, which…

The European Commission today endorsed the first two Monitoring Organisations envisaged to play a key role in aiding companies to comply with the EU Timber Regulation. Businesses can now team up…

More than 120 days have elapsed since the EUTR went into force. What is the current state of actual enforcement and how do markets respond? We take stock of the development during the first…

The EUTR exempts CITES licensed timber from risk assessment. However, recent Greenpeace exposures and investigations of dubious CITES timber arriving in Belgium showcase the weaknesses of the…

22 April 2013, London/Beijing: Join events with a strong focus on solutions and tools available for Chinese companies to exclude illegal timber from their supply chains. The events explore how the…

FSC has published several adjustments within its forest management, chain of custody and controlled wood systems. The changes effectively weed out nearly all remaining inconsistencies with the…

As of today, it is illegal for companies to place illegal timber on the EU market, owing to the EU Timber Regulation coming into force. NEPCon's Executive Director Peter Feilberg welcomes the…

Indonesian timber accompanied by “V-Legal Documents” which carry the name of FLEGT recently started to appear in the marketplace. The reference to FLEGT has caused a widespread misconception that…

3 March 2013, London: As of today, it is illegal for companies to place illegal timber on the EU market as the EU Timber Regulation comes into force. Non-profit organisation NEPCon welcomes the…

Exam time for verification schemes: Which level of assurance do they offer under the EU Timber Regulation? A new assessment, carried out by Proforest on behalf of the European Timber Trade…

On 19 November 2012, the Australian Senate voted in favour of the Australian Illegal Prohibition Bill, which prohibits the importing of illegally logged timber and timber products as well as…

On 9 November 2012, the long-awaited guidance document clarifying important details of the EU Timber Regulation was presented by EU. It provides clarification on several issues raised by…

On 9 November 2012, the long-awaited guidance document clarifying important details of the EU Timber Regulation was presented by EU. It provides clarification on several issues raised by…

19.12.2012; London, UK: Companies that have not yet got to grips with the EU Timber Regulation can join NEPCon’s training from January 2013, designed to arm businesses with a solid understanding…

 On 5 December 2012, Transparency International released the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2012.

On 5 December 2012, Transparency International released the results of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2012.

On 31 October, FSC released an expanded version of the FSC chain of custody directive (FSC-DIR-40-004), including changes that are essential for the system's alignment with the EU Timber…

Today, exactly three months remain until businesses need to comply with the EU Timber Regulation. Many companies in the UK feel they are close to ready; however, some are still at risk of not…

On 31 October, FSC released an expanded version of the FSC chain of custody directive (FSC-DIR-40-004), including changes that are essential for the system's alignment with the EU Timber…

Today, exactly three months remain until businesses need to comply with the EU Timber Regulation. Many companies in the UK feel they are close to ready; however, some are still at risk of not…

On 19 November 2012, the Australian Senate voted in favour of the Australian Illegal Prohibition Bill, which prohibits the importing of illegally logged timber and timber products as well as…

Companies facing new legal requirements as the EU Timber Regulation comes into force in March 2013 are looking for ways to reduce the risk of sourcing illegal material.

Timber criminals carry much more than the theft of logs on their conscience. Shady timber deals not only harm nations, people and wildlife by destroying forests; they also endanger global efforts…

At a well-attended meeting held on 4 September in Brussels, the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF) presented newly developed due diligence tools. These tools aid European timber traders…

Timber criminals carry much more than the theft of logs on their conscience. Shady timber deals not only harm nations, people and wildlife by destroying forests; they also endanger global efforts…

The EU Timber Regulation requires companies to exercise due diligence when placing timber or timber products on the EU market for the first time.

On Monday 6 August 2012, a three-year investigation of Gibson Guitar Corp.under the US Lacey Act regarding imports of allegedly illegal ebony and rosewood from Madagascar came to an end, as the…

Those who seek to raise their fortunes based on forest crime may not find their chosen career quite as convenient and fruitful in future as they have been accustomed to.

Businesses in the UK and Ireland have less than eight months to prepare for the new EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), which will prohibit the placing of illegal timber products onto the EU market in an…

Many enterprises trading in wood or paper products are about to enter purchase agreements with suppliers located outside of the EU.

In its “Government Barometer 2012”, WWF criticises EU member states for being too reluctant when it comes to on-the-ground actions that they are expected to carry out to halt the flow of illegal…

Australia has come considerably closer to adopting a new Timber Act, after a special committee of the Australian Senate has given its full support to the Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition…

Minor non-certified components will need to be completely phased out of the FSC system within a year's time. FSC has found this to be a necessary move in order to ensure recognition of FSC…

The Board of Appeal of the Dutch Environmental Foundation has ruled to uphold a judgement made last year by the Dutch Timber Procurement Assessment Committee (TPAC). TPAC found that the PEFC…

NEPCon and the Rainforest Alliance are launching a new tool today that will aid companies importing timber into the EU to identify and manage weakness in their supply chains. Importers urgently…

On the 4th and 9th of May respectively, Indonesia and Liberia signed Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with the EU, pledging to halt illegal timber harvesting in their countries.

The Australian government has released an "Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011" for public consultation. The proposed Act bans illegal timber products from entering the Australian market and…

Tim Grabiel from the organisation of activist lawyers ClientEarth puts the EU Timber Regulation on trial: will it effectively exclude illegal timber from the EU marketplace? The answer rests in…

The Australian Government has announced that it is taking "strong action to restrict the importation of illegally logged timber into Australia by introducing new legislation".

Austria has launched a new action plan for green public procurement that stresses the importance of certification to get proper assurance for the responsible origin of wood products.

Within the past year, almost 30 companies located in 10 countries have teamed up with the Rainforest Alliance to achieve timber legality verification.

It is now clear that an EU-wide ban on placing illegal timber products on the EU market will come into effect in 2012.

New Danish public procurement guidelines recommend the Rainforest Alliance's Verification of Legal Compliance (VLC) scheme as assurance for meeting the Danish government's requirements for…

According to several media, the EU countries have agreed to ban trade in illegal timber products in the EU.

If imports of illegal fish can be banned in EU, then why not timber, asked the UK Minister of Environment. He also asked why EU should leave the door to illegal wood open when it has the chance to…

At the Chatham House 15th Illegal Logging Stakeholder Update, the UK Minister of Environment, food and rural affairs Hilary Benn announced the inclusion of social criteria in the Government's…

During a meeting on the 15th of December, the EU Council of Agricultural Ministers decided against a proposal to put an EU-wide legal ban on trade in illegal wood products - a move that would…

On the 8th and 9th of October, timber trade federations and their members from around the world will meet in Geneva, Switzerland and discuss todays hot topics: Rising demands for sustainable…

During a key international meeting on illegal logging, significant early effects of the US Lacey Act were highlighted, while it seems likely that similar proposed EU legislation to combat illegal…

While the US Lacey Act adopted last year to curb illegal timber trade is already starting to have effect on the market, the EU is still in the process of developing similar legislation.

The landmark US Lacey Act, adopted last year in its current form, has already shown that it is capable of transforming the approach of companies to make sure of the legality of traded wood…

According to the International Tropical Timber Organization, ITTO, a multi-million illegal logging operation has been detected in the Brazilian state of Pará.

Traders in illegal timber products are probably facing hard times in the EU.

On the 17th of October, the EU revealed a package including two initiatives that aim to curb global deforestation and reduce the EU's import of illegal timber.