New legislation to prevent illegal logging

The Illegal Logging Prohibition Act, currently awaiting assent in the Federal parliament, will now make it an offence to import illegally harvested timber into Australia, or to process illegally harvested timber within Australia. Breaking the law could result in five years' imprisonment or a $275,000 fine. 

Importers of applicable timber products and processors of raw logs will be forced to conduct due diligence to reduce the risk of contravening the law - a process which will involve a three-step process:

• identifying and gathering information to determine whethe the timber is at risk of being logged illegally.

• making a risk assessment based on this information

• mitigating the risk depending on the level identified.

Regulations will be introduced to detail the due diligence requirements, and to set out the specific timber products that will be subject to the regulations. These are expected to be tabled within six months from the date of assent to the Act, to commence after two years. This gives the industry time to establish and implement due diligence systems. The Act will commence on the day following assent.

Subscribers can view the full text and further information on the Bill here.

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