The policy

The UK Government’s timber procurement policy previously required its departments to actively seek to purchase legal and sustainable timber and timber products. This changed on April 1 2009 and the policy now demands that all timber and wood-derived products must be from only:

•           Independently verifiable legal and sustainable sources OR
•           FLEGT-licensed timber or equivalent sources

Timber which only meets the legality criteria will be accepted in very special cases only, see exemptions to the policy below.  As an alternative, contracting authorities can demand recycled timber.

Details on the policy can be found in the Timber Procurement Advice Note April 2010, available for download here. The latest advice note was updated and published early April 2010.

It is essential that relevant personnel, contractors, suppliers etc. are aware of the policy. CPET has developed an leaflet on the policy for distribution.  The leaflet can be downloaded here or hardcopies can be requested by contacting CPET. 

Specification text and contract condition

Model specification text and a model contract condition are provided in the Timber Procurement Advice Note (April 2010) Annex B and C.  The Timber Procurement Advice Note from April 2010 addresses the inclusion of the social criteria and the previous version shall no longer be used.  Read more here.

The model specification text should be included in specifications for all contracts and funding mechanisms involving the supply of timber or wood-derived products. Similarly, the model contract condition should be used as a Supplementary Condition including the supply of timber or wood-derived products.

Evidence of compliance with the policy

The UK government's legality and sustainability criteria are defined by the document titled "UK Government timber procurement policy: Definitions of "legal" and "sustainable" for timber procurement" can be found here.  The policy requires government buyers to request evidence from contractors that the supplied products comply, not only with the policy requirements for legal, but also the requirements for sustainable timber or FLEGT-licensed timber (see below). This evidence should cover both the source of the timber (chain of custody) and proof that this source is legally and sustainably managed or FLEGT-licensed.

Evidence can still come in the two forms:

Category A evidence is independent certification of the timber and timber products by any of the forest certification schemes that meet the policy requirements (such as FSC and PEFC). See a full list of approved schemes here.

Category B evidence is alternative documentary evidence that provides assurance that the source is legal and sustainable. More information on how to collect and evaluate category B evidence here.

These two forms of evidence can be combined, for example when the forest of origin is certified, but the chain of custody is not.  

What is FLEGT?

FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) is an EU initiative to support countries to address illegal logging. A key component of FLEGT will be a licensing scheme between producer partner countries and the EU.

Currently there is no FLEGT-licensed timber available in the market and therefore further detailed guidance on requirements to FLEGT-licensed timber  will follow from CPET as it becomes available. Further information on FLEGT is available here. 

Exemptions to the policy

The policy applies to all timber and wood-derived products used on the government estate in furniture, paper, construction including temporary site works and material supplied by contractors such as scaffolding, hoardings and shuttering.

Only in situations where a particular type of product or timber species is needed (e.g. for use in marine defences or refurbishment of an historic building) and no legal and sustainable or FLEGT source is available will exceptions to the requirements be accepted.

In the event of such a situation, CPET should be contacted and provided with:

1. A documented justification setting out why no alternative can be used;
2. Evidence that the source of material was legally managed;

Additionally, preference should be given to material from sources that are demonstrably in an active programme to improve and certify forest management - CPET can provide up-to-date information.  

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not mandated to comply with UK Government policies, but CPET is available with support and guidance and alignment is encouraged.

For policy information from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, see the following links:

 Scottish Executive procurement policy 

 Welsh procurement policy

 Northern Ireland procurement policy