Draft Illegal Logging Legislation

The Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill 2011 is currently before the Australian senate and is expected to be passed by the end of this year. The legislation aims to prevent the importation of illegal forest products into Australia, and to encourage the production and use of forest products sourced using sustainable forest management principles.

The legislation identified several measures to facilitate the achievement of its aims, including:

• Identifying illegally logged timber and restricting its import into Australia; and
• Requiring disclosure at point of sale of species, country of origin and any certification, making it more difficult to sell illegally logged timber in Australia.

These measures and others outlined within the Bill will aid in the removal of unfair competition on the Australian timber industry from illegally logged timber products and see Australia join the United States and members of the European Union as nations actively working to eradicate illegal logging.

For more information on the Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill see the following links:

www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee