AHEC has developed a comprehensive and easily accessible set of
guidelines for its members to help Australian importers of American hardwoods comply
with the new AUSILPAR legislation.
The Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment Regulation
(AUSILPAR) comes into full effect on 30th November.
The AHEC guidelines document has been created to explain to American
exporters how best they can assist Australian importers with the ‘due
diligence’ requirements of AUSILPAR, which necessitates a thorough risk
assessment of the legality of timber imports.
According to AHEC Oceania Director Roderick Wiles, all US hardwood
producing regions are considered low risk in terms of illegal harvest -
confirmed through both the Seneca Creek Study and the FSC Risk Register draft
risk assessment. Since the US has a history of good forest governance, AHEC is confident
that exporters will be able to supply Australian importers with the information
they need to meet their AUSILPAR obligations accurately.
Dominic McNeil, Director at Britton Timbers, one of the major importers
of American hardwoods into Australia finds the guidelines to be of great
assistance to companies like Britton that import American hardwood into
Australia. Having already used them as part of their due diligence for AUSILPAR,
he finds that the guidelines are very helpful as they set out for American
suppliers exactly what Australian importers require in terms of information,
facilitating a more efficient and streamlined process.
