NEPCon and the Rainforest Alliance have introduced helpful tool to adapt to the new requirements of European law on the import of wood.
NEPCon and the Rainforest Alliance introduced a new tool that aims to encourage importers to take appropriate steps to adapt to the new requirements of European law which will come into force on 3 March 2013. The new requirements require entrepreneurs from European Union countries importing wood, wood and paper to control, and proper management of supply chains in order to eliminate material from illegal sources.
"Those who do not take the right action now, they may find themselves in a difficult situation for two years", says Christian Sloth, Manager of Validation Services in NEPC. "Many vendors need time to adapt to the new requirements and preparation of relevant documentation." "Our tool - 'Gap Analysis', has been created to meet the needs of entrepreneurs importing wood and paper products into the EU," explains Mr. Sloth. The tool helps importers to get a quick overview of its own system of obtaining the raw material and allows prioritization of actions aimed to meet the new requirements. "This tool complements our services of validation of the legality of timber, which is increasing in demand. Manufacturers and distributors of wood all over the world are becoming more aware of the importance of ensuring the legality of the raw material, "says Jon Jickling, Director of the SmartWood Program of the Rainforest Alliance.