The British Timber Trade Federation (TTF) informed its members that the company Hardwood Dimensions Holdings, Manchester/UK, pleaded guilty to an offence under regulation reg4(b) concerning the Placing on the Market of Timber Products.
Even though the Ayous wood imported from West Africa did not come from illegal sources, the guidelines applied by the enterprise proved to be inadequate, as the managing director of Hardwood Dimensions Simon Marsden admitted. By now, the company has adopted the RPP Due Diligence Toolkit provided by the TTF which is more comprehensive than the previous system.
In light of these events, David Hopkins, managing director of the TTF, pointed out how important it is to observe examining procedures approved by the European Timber Regulation (EUTR) even if FSC certified wood is being purchased. "FSC alone is no guarantee of having complied with legal process", Hopkins argues.
