Public Procurement Policy on Timber - United Kingdom

The UK Government has developed a timber procurement policy which requires central government to actively seek to buy timber from legal and sustainable sources only. In 1997, the UK government issued voluntary guidance, and in July 2000 announced that to purchase timber and timber products from sustainable and legal sources was to become a binding commitment for central Government departments. Local government is encouraged to comply.

The Government has established a Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET). The first project completed by CPET was to assess the five major forest certification schemes used by suppliers to show whether they comply with the Government's procurement policy. Public sector bodies and their suppliers can ask the CPET for free help with their timber requirements.

Documents:

UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee: Second Report on Sustainable Timber

UK procurement policy on timber - What have the impacts been? (Chatham House Sep 2005)

Final Report on CPET Assessment of Certification Schemes (pdf)

UK Government response to questions on the CPET Assessment (pdf)

DEFRA Press Release on the release of the Final CPET Assessment (doc)

DEFRA 2004 Timber Procurement Advice Note: January 2004

Office of Government Commerce (OGC) 2002: Timber Procurement by Government Departments

Procurement of Timber Products from 'Legal & Sustainable Sources' by Government & its Executive Agencies: Scoping Study Report (ERM 2002)