EU timber policy to hit Andhra Pradesh toys, woodcraft industry

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Hyderabad: The new stringent European Union Timber regulation (EUTR) will hit hard the exports of famous woodcrafts of the state, including Kondapally, Etikoppaka toys, wooden carving and wooden furniture.
 
EU’s new rules say buyers have to ensure due diligence on the origin of wood and on sustainable harvesting.  The state government auctioned Red Sanders’ wood that was seized from smugglers. The wood may not get buyers from EU as the wood is illegally obtained and not sustainable.
 
EUTR is aimed at curbing sale of illegally harvested timber. This will keep track of the supply chain of timber and this would impact small and medium enterprises and exporters in India including AP.
 
T.R. Manoharan, Consultant of European Forest Institute and national representative of Forest Stewardship Council said, “The EUTR came into force on March 3 in 27 EU countries. The woodcrafters like Kondapally toy makers have to provide proper information on the origin of the wood and its sustainable harvesting to the buyers. They have to prove where they collected the wood and also identify the species. If they are not well prepared to answer the queries then there will be a problem for them in the market.”
 
Under the EUTR, placing illegally harvested timber and products derived from such timber on the EU market is prohibited. The regulation applies to wood and wood products being placed for the first time on the EU market.