Overview

This bill aims to prohibit the sale of illegally sourced timber and wood products within the United Kingdom. It establishes penalties for those who sell, offer for sale, or handle such materials, regardless of whether the illegality was known or not. The bill also includes provisions for the forfeiture of illegally obtained wood products.

Description

The Illegally Logged Timber (Prohibition of Sale) Bill makes it illegal to sell or offer for sale timber or wood products that were illegally harvested, sold, taken, possessed, exported, or imported. This applies to distributors and importers across the UK.

Key Definitions:

• Distributor: Anyone professionally and commercially manufacturing, selling, importing, or exporting wood.
• Importer: Anyone within the UK responsible for bringing wood into the country for commercial reasons.
• Wood: Includes timber, bamboo, rattan, and related products.

Offences and Penalties:

• Knowingly selling or offering illegally sourced wood: Up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a £100,000 fine.
• Recklessly selling or offering illegally sourced wood: Up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a £50,000 fine.
• Selling illegally sourced wood in good faith: A fine at level 5 on the standard scale.
• Falsifying labels or records related to wood sales: Up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a £10,000 fine.

Penalties are per consignment and can be increased by the Secretary of State via parliamentary order. The court can order the forfeiture of illegally sourced wood and related items.

The Secretary of State may also create regulations to further support the Act.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify any direct government spending figures, but enforcement and potential legal costs associated with prosecutions will add to existing government expenditure. The exact amount is not included in the provided bill text.

Groups Affected

• Importers and distributors of wood products: They face significant penalties for non-compliance, requiring due diligence in sourcing materials.
• Consumers: Indirectly affected by potentially higher prices due to increased scrutiny and compliance costs within the timber industry.
• Law enforcement agencies: Responsible for investigating and prosecuting offenses under the bill.
• The timber industry: Requires adjustment to ensure ethical sourcing practices and compliance with the new regulations.

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