At the meeting of European ministers in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council (15 December 2009), a discussion was held on the proposal for the Regulation laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market. The legislation requires all operators placing timber on the EU market for the first time to minimise the risk that it is illegal by undertaking due diligence on their supply chains. The ministers rejected a proposal to ban the importing of illegal timber and timber products, and instead agreed on measures including stricter rules on the certification of timber entering the EU. The UK, Spain, Denmark and Belgium abstained from the vote. The draft legislation approved in the meeting will be sent to the European parliament for a second reading in 2010.

Partial Common Position of the Council

European Agriculture and Fisheries Council

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