FEATURE BREXIT ADVICE
Get Brexit Rule Ready With the Brexit transition period soon to end, businesses trading timber are being urged to prepare for the many changes ahead of 1 January 2021.
F
rom 1 January 2021, all UK businesses importing timber
beyond just paperwork. As UK companies prepare for conducting due
from the EU/EEA and outside will be classified as
diligence for timber products imported from the EU mainland, this toolkit
Operators and are required to carry out due diligence
is aimed to also help new Operators to get on board and ensure that they
under the UK’s timber legislation, and vice versa under
have the minimum tools to deliver the requirements.”
the EU Timber Regulation.
As we went to press, the TTF updated and republished advice to help
The latest advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development
firms prepare for the end of the transition period. The ‘TTF Brexit Guide:
Office (FCDO) is when importing legally harvested timber, you’ll need to
preparing for 1 January 2021’ aims to support the UK timber supply chain
carry out due diligence and use a due diligence checklist to make sure
to prepare for new processes and challenges and includes:
you gather information on the timber – its species, quantity, supplier, country of harvest and how it complies with relevant laws, assess the
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The introduction of Custom Checks on goods coming from EU countries
risk of timber being illegal by applying the legal criteria and mitigate any
•
The UK Global Tariff replacing the EU Common External Tariff
identified risk, by getting more information or taking further actions to
•
The need for most timber firms to complete Due Diligence
confirm the timber is legal.
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The introduction of UK Conformity Assessed (UK CA) marking.
To help its members and industry as a whole, the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) has launched a due diligence toolkit to help companies
These are significant changes, as the EU is the primary source of timber
importing and exporting timber and timber products better understand,
imports into the UK, and the introduction of new requirements such as
conduct and report due diligence under the EU/UK Timber Regulation.
Custom Checks will mean greater administrative burden for firms when
“With this free, interactive tool, timber firms in the UK are gaining a
importing from the EU. While most timber products will remain duty
fantastic new resource to undertake and report due diligence,” said David
free under the UK Global Tariff, firms should still check and familiarise
Hopkins, TTF CEO. “This is particularly important for those firms which
themselves with the Commodity Codes relevant to their products.
may find themselves facing an expanded set of obligations as we shift from EU Timber Regulation to UK Timber Regulation.
UK CA marking commences from 1 January 2021, and while manufacturers can continue to supply CE marked goods to the UK during
“As the UK exits the EU Single Market, businesses importing into the
2021, where they are using an EU Notified Body, they must prepare for
UK from the European Economic Area will need to carry out due diligence
the UK CA mark to become the sole UK requirement from January 2022.
confirming that the timber product placed on the UK market has been
European harmonised standards and UK designated standards will be
legally harvested to meet the UK Timber Regulations. This will be a
identical to begin with, however firms should also plan for a future where
change for many members, with Europe still supplying the majority of all
these may diverge over time.
UK timber imports. It will be important all our members ensure they have
“Regardless of whether a deal is signed the UK will see a fundamental
a due diligence system in place to identify areas of potential risk where
shift in the relationship with our biggest trading partner,” says David
illegal timber may enter the supply chain.
Hopkins. “When the UK exits the EU single market and customs union, it is
“There is a misconception that due diligence equates to paperwork
essential every business in the UK timber supply chain is prepared. Using
such as permits,” says TTF sustainability manager Xiao Ma. “While it is
this guidance, which is tailored to meet the needs of the timber supply
true, compared with non-tangible information, such as industry insight
chain, firms will be able to build a working knowledge of these changes,
and supplier engagement activities, paperwork is the most presentable
as well as be directed to where they can find detailed information. Make
type of input and output, but it is not the full package of due diligence.
sure you take the time to analyse how the end of the transition period
“The toolkit serves as a guidance for conducting due diligence and aims
may affect your business, use the TTF tools to get yourself on the right
to encourage companies examine their own existing procedure to ensure
path, and clearly communicate any potential issues with both your
key criteria, risk factors, stakeholder information, and mitigation actions are
customers and your suppliers to minimise disruptions.”
not being missed during their process. It also aspires to encourage better reporting of companies on the full range of their input and actions taken,
Timber Construction Magazine
Winter 2020
The guidance is focused on providing information on Contract Documents, Logistics, Customs Entry, Finance, CE Marking, Plant Health,
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