EU Timber Regulation

Self-Declaration by Solida Holz GmbH Regarding EUTR 995/2010

The EUTR, also known as EU Regulation 995/2010, is the European law aimed at reducing illegal logging. The regulation prohibits the placing on the market of illegally harvested timber within the European Single Market. It distinguishes between two types of actors: the market operator and the trader. A market operator is a company that initiates the placing of goods on the EU market for the first time; in other words, the importer of the goods. Dealers are companies that sell goods that have already been placed on the market within the single market. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Market participants are subject to a duty of care. They must take “care” to ensure that the import of illegally harvested timber is prevented. Article 6 of the Regulation sets forth how this is to be implemented. The duty of care consists of three elements: gathering or providing information, conducting risk assessments, and developing risk mitigation procedures.

Under the regulation, retailers are subject to a record-keeping requirement. They must maintain records for at least five years showing from whom they purchased the goods and to whom they sold them.

Solida Holz GmbH endorses the European Timber Regulation aimed at combating illegal logging and supports the certification of its own suppliers in the countries of origin to promote sustainable forestry. The company is classified as a trader and market participant under the terms of the regulation.

The GmbH undertakes to comply with the requirements of the EUTR. The import of illegally harvested, processed, and traded timber is prevented through appropriate measures, as required by the EUTR. The company’s customers are dealers. Provided they meet the requirements arising from proper record-keeping, they are not subject to any further obligations under the EUTR.