Recommendations
- I recommend that the Committee:
a. note that Cabinet approved consultation on a public consultation discussion document in February 2006 [CBC Min (06) 3/10] based on draft goals, objectives and actions of a potential policy;
b. note that a key issue identified by stakeholders was the desire for a unilateral ban on all illegally produced timber and wood products entering New Zealand;
c. note that officials do not support a unilateral ban described in (b) or similar trade restrictions as such measures would not be practical, would create potential risks for New Zealand’s wider trading interests and be vulnerable to legal challenge under the WTO;
d. invite the Minister of Forestry to report to POL by June 2007 on the feasibility and practicality of introducing a regulatory requirement for suppliers of timber and wood products in New Zealand to produce a declaration of conformity with the laws and regulations of the country of origin (including New Zealand) as an alternative to a unilateral ban on suspected illegally produced timber and wood imports;
e. agree that New Zealand’s policy on addressing illegal logging and associated trade be based on the following goals:
- Appropriate and effective mechanisms at the global level which support practical solutions to the problem of illegal logging and associated trade.
- Coordinated and effective approaches exist at a regional level to combat illegal logging and associated trade.
- Effective bilateral engagement, including appropriate assistance with the development of accountable environmental governance and sustainable management of forest resources, which addresses illegal logging.
- Government demonstrates a leadership role in buying legal and sustainably produced timber and wood products.
- Awareness and action amongst New Zealand producers, suppliers and consumers contributes to addressing illegal logging.
f. agree that the following objectives are used to achieve those goals:
- Champion the issue of illegal logging as a key focus point for international discussion and action;
- Increase Pacific country engagement on, and awareness of, illegal logging issues.
- Support regional cooperation on monitoring and tracking of timber and wood products to address illegal logging.
- Develop bilateral arrangements that seek to address illegal logging.
- Provide strong Government leadership through a credible and enforced procurement policy that makes it mandatory for Government departments to seek legally produced timber and wood products, including paper, and where available, sustainably produced products.
- Encourage stronger public and private sector awareness and action through enhanced communication; development of identification mechanisms for legal products; and increased understanding of environmental, economic and social effects of the problem.
g. agree to officials reporting to the Minister of Forestry, Minister of Conservation, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Trade by June 2007 with a strategy for international, regional and bilateral engagement on illegal logging and associated trade;
h. agree to New Zealand supporting discussion on the potential for a multilateral framework or mechanism to address illegal logging, including assessment of the level of international interest in such an approach and its likely efficacy;
i. agree to a change in name from the Interim Timber Procurement Policy to the Timber and Wood Products Procurement Policy;
j. agree to introduce a mandatory requirement for Government Departments to seek legally produced timber and wood products, including paper, when purchasing these products;
k. agree to introduce a mandatory requirement for Government Departments to document for audit their verification of the legality of timber and timber products purchased;
l. note that the existing requirement for a preference for timber and wood products from sustainably managed sources, where reasonably available, and consistent with the value-for-money and other principles of the government procurement policy framework remains;
m. direct officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Ministry of Economic Development and the Govt3 programme to continue to work together to provide enhanced support and guidance to help implement the Timber Procurement Policy;
n. direct officials to undertake research on the effects of illegal logging and associated trade on New Zealand timber and wood products in domestic and in export markets;
o. invite the Minister of Forestry and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to report to POL by June 2008 on the progress of the policy; and
p. agree to the public release of this Cabinet paper.
Hon Jim Anderton
Minister of Forestry
Contact for Enquiries
Senior Policy Analyst
Forest Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0678
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
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