Due Diligence System

Due diligence systems: the new regulation stipulates that operators who place timber or timber products on the internal market for the first time must exercise due diligence through a system comprising three elements inherent to risk management:

Access to information: You shall provide the following information:

a.     Description of the type of product and species of the wood used (trade and common name and, where applicable, also the full scientific name);

b.    country of harvest, and where applicable:

      (1) sub-national region where the timber was harvested; and

      (2) concession of harvest;

c.     quantity (expressed in volume, weight or number of units);

d.    name and address of the supplier to the operator;

e.     name and address of the trader to whom the timber and timber products have been supplied;

f.     documents or other information showing legality of the timber;

Risk assessment:  You shall, based on the procedures, take into account the relevant risk assessment criteria, including:

(i)             assurance of compliance with applicable legislation, which may include certification or other third-party- verified schemes which cover compliance with applicable legislation;

(ii)            prevalence of illegal harvesting of specific tree species;

(iii)           prevalence of illegal harvesting or practices in the country of harvest and/or sub-national region where the timber was harvested, including consideration of the prevalence of armed conflict;

(iv)          sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council or the Council of the European Union on timber imports or exports;

(v)           complexity of the supply chain of timber and timber products;

Mitigation of the risk identified: this concerns a set of measures and procedures that are adequate and proportionate to minimise effectively that risk and which may include requiring additional information or documents and/or requiring third party verification.

You can either use existing/set up your own systems or make use of the system of a monitoring organisation.