Contractual obligations

Central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are 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.

Click on the above image to see at which points in your procurement process these various model texts may be useful for you.

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 Condition of Contract regarding Timber and Wood Derived Products.

When preparing invitations to tender (ITTs), Government procurement personnel should include a paragraph describing the requirements for legality and sustainablity of 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.