UKTR United Kingdom Timber Regulation

With the growing demand for timber and timber products, illegal logging and related trade have become a problem that affects the environment and has social, political, and economic consequences. Illegal logging also poses a threat to operators in the sector, who work in accordance with current legislation.

Timber supply chains are regulated to ensure harvesting practices are legal, encourage sustainable harvesting practices and support global forest governance. Businesses trading in timber and timber products in the United Kingdom must take steps to ensure that they originate from legal sources.

The Timber and Timber Products Placing on the Market Regulations (UKTR) and UK FLEGT Regulations apply in Great Britain from 1 January 2021 but the requirements remain the same as under EUTR.

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What is the UKTR?

UKTR is a suite of separate regulations, including:

Timber and Timber Products (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2013
Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulations 2012 (as amended)
Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (EU Exit) Regulations 2018
Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020

UK Timber Regulation aims to close the market to uncontrolled/illegal flows of timber and timber products by ensuring that the UK imports timber harvested in compliance with the laws of the country of origin.

The requirements apply to those operators and traders who work with roundwood, pulpwood and timber products, such as plywood, paper, furniture, etc. UKTR requirements affect your business depending on your position in the supply chain, as well as on the type of product you are buying/selling. The requirements apply to both operators and traders.

Operators are the first to place timber and timber products on the UK market. Their main responsibility is to carry out legality checks, minimizing the possibility of placing illegally harvested timber or timber products on the market. To ensure this process, a risk management system – Due Diligence System (DDS) – must be implemented.

Traders buy and sell timber or timber products that have already been placed on the UK market. Traders have a responsibility to ensure product traceability by maintaining and providing access to information on suppliers and customers.

How to demonstrate compliance with UKTR requirements?

To demonstrate compliance with the UK Timber Regulation, a company needs to ensure high-quality execution of the requirements of the Regulation, including the implementation and monitoring of the Due Diligence System.
BM Certification, an accredited certification body, can review your compliance with the UK Timber Regulation and, if necessary, provide training on the requirements of the Regulation.

Who needs to get the UKTR assessment?

In principle the operators themselves are required to comply with several in-depth requirements under the UKTR, including the implementation of a Due Diligence System for all timber and timber products. The DDS requires an initial assessment of the risk of illegal origin of timber or timber products. Furthermore, the system must be maintained and regularly evaluated in accordance with the requirements of the UKTR.

An independent review of your compliance with UK Timber Regulation confirms and ensures that your company has implemented a Due Diligence System and regularly monitors its use. Successful completion of the review confirms your sustainability, product legality, and competitiveness.

By choosing to review your compliance with the UKTR, you will:

analyse information on timber and timber products placed on the market by the operators;
perform a risk assessment, analysing and evaluating the possibility of placing illegally harvested timber or timber products on the market;
mitigate the risk of illegal origin of timber or timber products;
ensure the traceability of products and their raw materials;
ensure the implementation and regular monitoring of the Due Diligence System;
receive an independent third-party assessment of the legality of your products and their raw materials and your compliance with the UK Timber Regulation.