Rochdale MEP's timber success

Chris Davies MEP

A Rochdale Euro-MP's 6 year campaign to try and halt the destruction of tropical rainforests has secured a major victory.

The import into Europe of timber from illegal sources will be banned from 2012 thanks to a deal struck in Brussels.

Rochdale timber wholesalers have been warned that they will have to secure proof that the wood they buy has come from legally managed sources or face the risk of prosecution.

Illegal tree-felling is one of the biggest sources of deforestation on the planet. Huge sums of money are made by corrupt businesses that pay no respect to national laws.

Builders often use the illegal wood without being aware of its origin, although some major DIY retailers now ensure that their wood comes only from sustainable sources.

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies first tried to persuade the European Commission that timber imports should be banned in 2004.

Davies said: "The lawyers told me then that it couldn't be done, but unless the people who buy the timber are forced to check the source we will never curb the criminals.

"The pressure has been kept up and now EU governments have agreed to try and halt the destruction of forests."

The market for illegal timber in Europe is estimated to be worth over £1 billion. The EU's 27 members account for 20% of world-wide illegal timber imports.