Timber industry organisations collaborate to halt the import of Russian timber, often referred to as ‘blood wood,’ in Europe.

More than three and a half years following the implementation of sanctions on imports of wood products from Russia and Belarus, the foremost timber organisations in Europe have reiterated their robust and steadfast commitment to preventing the infiltration of Russian timber into European supply chains.

80,000 Hours

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Kieran Anders Forestry

Kieran Anders is a forestry contractor working in the lake district. His work involves hand cutting and extracting timber using a skidder and tractor-trailer forwarder.
Promoting safety in the workplace

It is not possible to eliminate chain shot, but there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.
Glasfryn Fencing and Sawmill

Arwel takes great pride in the fact that the mill has no waste whatsoever, “the peelings are used for children’s playgrounds, gardens and for farm animals in barns in the winter and the sawdust has multiple uses in gardens and farms as well.
Keeping Timber Hauliers Safe

Timber hauliers need to encourage young blood in, and also look after the hauliers we have, we need make the sector a safe and positive place to work.

FIND US ON

In a joint declaration issued by Timber Development UK (TDUK), the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (CEI‑Bois), the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF), and the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS), it was emphasized that the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom strictly prohibit the purchase, import, or transfer—whether directly or indirectly—of wood originating from Russia or Belarus. All companies are required to fully comply with these regulations.

The federations recognised that “residual quantities of prohibited wood regrettably continue to circulate within Europe” despite existing bans, subsequently condemning this practice. The statement emphasized, “Operators bear legal responsibility for any violations of sanctions, whether these are intentional or the result of negligence.” It noted that such operators cannot evade liability by neglecting to exercise due diligence. In addition to the potential for reputational harm, operators in the European Union and the United Kingdom who contravene sanctions face administrative and criminal penalties. The federations called upon national and European authorities to ensure consistent monitoring of compliance with sanctions and to enforce appropriate penalties for violations.

The declaration concluded with a clear message: “The wood industry value chain in the European Union and the United Kingdom is unified in its commitment to refrain from importing wood from Russia and Belarus. Upholding integrity is fundamental to our industry, and we categorically denounce any illegal and unethical practices by any organisation.”

The recent pledge emerges in response to increasing evidence that Russian timber continues to infiltrate supply chains in the United Kingdom and Europe under deceptive circumstances. A report published in September by Wood Central indicated that as much as 7.5 percent of timber used in UK housing may have been illegally sourced from Russia. This information was derived from the Australian-based forensic firm Source Certain, which traced shipments falsely labeled as originating from Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania back to Russian forests. This was achieved by integrating logistics data with wood-DNA analysis.

According to Cameron Scadding, the founder of Source Certain, each region imparts a distinct isotopic signature to its timber, representing an “intrinsic bar code” that identifies the geographical source of the wood. Investigators caution that this black market activity undermines the sanctions intended to deprive Russia of financial resources for its military actions in Ukraine. Given that Russian timber plantations are state-owned, the proceeds from smuggling operations are believed to directly support the Kremlin’s war efforts, as noted by Scadding in an interview with the Guardian.