Householders cautioned over illegal timber influx

UK householders have been warned that the timber used to create their garden furniture or even whole fixtures in their homes could have been illegally logged in other parts of the world.

The Environment Investigation Agency (EIA) has begun a campaign to highlight the fact that Britain is the world's third largest importer of the illegal goods, the Guardian has reported.

The EIA has called for new laws making it illegal to trade such timber in the UK, claiming that voluntary schemes are not working, and advising that only products certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council are guaranteed to be legal.

"It's a bit of a minefield - consumers will have to do a bit of work to ensure they are not contributing to the destruction of rainforests," an EIA spokesman told the Guardian.

"Consumers assume it is already banned, but are still unwittingly buying illegal wood every day," added EIA senior forests campaigner Faith Doherty.

Prices in the UK timber market rose by 20 per cent in the 12 months to September 2006, it was advised earlier this week.



© Adfero Ltd