The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has begun a review of Australia’s illegal logging laws and is seeking stakeholder input. The review will assess if the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 continues to be fit-for-purpose. This is standard practice for many pieces of Commonwealth legislation of a similar nature. Source: Timberbiz
The review will also consider potential reforms to strengthen Australia’s illegal logging laws more broadly, which may require changes to both the Regulation and the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012.
Australia was among the first countries globally to introduce illegal logging laws. The review is an opportunity to learn from nearly 10 years of experience here and overseas.
The potential reforms aim to ensure that the laws are effective at protecting the Australian market from illegally logged timber, and efficient in minimising burdens on regulated businesses from the law’s operation.
Some of the improvements being considered as part of the review include:
- receiving key information before regulated goods arrive at the border
- ensuring officials are empowered to deal with compliance risks at the border
- reducing the need to repeat due diligence
- simplifying requirements for low-risk products.
These potential reforms stem from recommendations made by the 2018 Statutory Review.
Anyone with an interest in our illegal logging laws is encouraged to provide their feedback on the review. Consultation is open until 31 August 2021.
Please visit:https://haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/illegal-logging-sunsetting-review
to find out more and participate in the review, including upcoming information sessions, answering a short survey or uploading a written submission.
