Contractual obligations

Central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are now required to procure timber and wood-derived products originating from either legal and sustainable or FLEGT-licensed or equivalent sources.  See Annex B of the Timber Procurement Advice Note (TPAN), Model Specification Text  for more information.

It should be noted that as an alternative, contracting authorities can demand recycled timber.  Documentary evidence and independent verification will also apply to recycled timber but will focus on the use to which the timber was previously put rather than the forest source.  For more information, see the "Recycled Products" page.

Compliance with the UK Government timber procurement policy is achieved by ensuring that the contracts between the public buyer and their timber or timber products' suppliers have a Supplementary Condition of Contract regarding Timber and Wood Derived Products.

When preparing invitations to tender (ITTs), Government procurement personnel should include a paragraph describing the legal requirements for timber, as well as the option of supplying sustainable timber.

See Annex D of the TPAN, Model ITT  for more information.

If the timber or wood products supplied are not compliant with the requirements of the public buyer, the contract clause ensures that the products will have to be replaced by compliant products at no cost and without delay to the completion of the contract.

See Annex C of the TPAN, Model Contract Condition - Timber and wood-derived products.