Overview

This bill aims to make it illegal in the UK to import, export, sell, or distribute timber and timber products illegally harvested from their country of origin. It defines "illegal" harvesting broadly, encompassing violations of various laws in the timber's origin country, including environmental protection, indigenous rights, and labor laws. The bill establishes penalties for violations and requires due diligence from importers and distributors to avoid unknowingly handling illegally sourced timber.

Description

The Illegally Logged Timber (Prohibition of Import, Sale or Distribution) Bill criminalizes the handling of illegally harvested timber within the UK. "Illegal" is defined as timber harvested in violation of the applicable legislation of its country of origin. This legislation covers a wide range of areas, including environmental protection, forest management, indigenous rights, labor laws, and trade regulations.

Key Provisions:

• Offences: It's an offence to import, sell, offer for sale, or buy illegally harvested timber, knowingly or unknowingly. A defence exists if the individual proves they had no reason to believe the timber was illegally sourced and made reasonable inquiries.
• Penalties: Penalties for importers and distributors range from fines up to £200,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years for knowingly selling illegally sourced timber. The Secretary of State can increase these penalties by order. For those who unknowingly handle illegally sourced timber and fail to make appropriate inquiries penalties are less severe, while knowingly providing false information is also criminalized.
• Forfeiture: Courts can order the forfeiture of illegally sourced timber.
• Due Diligence: The bill requires importers and distributors to conduct due diligence to ensure the timber they handle was not illegally harvested. This may involve obtaining a statement from their supplier confirming they made the necessary inquiries.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. However, there may be associated costs in enforcing the new legislation, such as increased staffing for regulatory bodies or the cost of investigations and prosecutions. Conversely, there might be some long-term revenue increases linked to the prevention of illegal logging. No specific figures are provided within the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Importers and Distributors of Timber: These groups will face legal responsibilities to ensure their timber is legally sourced. Failure to comply will result in significant penalties.
• Consumers: While not directly targeted, consumers might indirectly benefit from reduced deforestation and improved environmental protection.
• Law Enforcement Agencies: These agencies will be responsible for enforcing the bill, which may require additional resources.
• Businesses involved in the illegal timber trade: This bill will directly impact those involved in the illegal trade. This may include criminal organizations and businesses that benefit from illegally harvested timber.

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