KUCHING: Constant changes introduced by the European Union are making it difficult for timber exporting countries like Malaysia to comply with its timber procurement policies.
Sarawak Forestry director Datuk Len Talif cited one of the latest requirements: a certificate to confirm that Malaysian timber and timber products are not illegally sourced.
"Previously, they insisted on proof of the chain of custody. Now they are talking about the legality of the timber," he said yesterday after marking World Forestry Day.
The EU is under pressure from environmentalists and non-governmental organisations to clamp down on illegal logging in exporting countries.
EU member states such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, France and Belgium have introduced timber procurement policies which require proof of legality. Because of the constant changes and stringent requirements, Sarawak timber companies are not rushing to meet EU requirements.
The lukewarm response is also because Malaysia's exports to the EU are small.
Sarawak has set a target to certify 65 forest management units (FMUs), or concession areas that practise sustainable forest management.
Once certified, timber logged from these areas is deemed to have met EU requirements.
But so far, only two areas covering about 156,000ha have been certified. One is in Ulu Baram and the other is in Tatau.
The 56,000ha FMU in Ulu Baram is managed by Shin Yang Corporation while the 100,000ha Tatau FMU is managed by Samling Strategic Corporation Sdn Bhd.
Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management, Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, in his address at the Sumber Alam Sanctuary in Petra Jaya, renewed the government's call for timber companies to obtain the Malaysian Timber Certification Council certification "to be competitive in the global market".
Awang Tengah said although the forest certification was voluntary, it would be to their advantage.
"There is an increasing demand for certified timber and timber products from a sustainable source," he said.
Sarawak has been marking World Forestry Day for the last 37 years. Its theme this year is "Love Our Forest".
Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, an outback of sheer beauty rich in resources such as pepper, cocoa, palm oil, timber and oil. With an area of 124,450 sq. km, it is a region of endless fascination, possessing the largest cave chamber in the world, verdant jungles, unique fauna and flora, white beaches, and remote islands. Its population of 1.5 million people is as rich and varied as the land.