European Commission Report Shows Slow Implementation of Illegal Logging Law

摘要

European Union countries have been slow to implement a 2010 EU law meant to curb illegal logging and have adopted widely differing codes of sanctions to punish importers that profit from trafficked timber, according to a European Commission evaluation report published Feb. 18. The commission's evaluation of the implementation of the EU Timber Regulation (EU Regulation No. 995/ 2010), which took effect March 3, 2013, said the law's "general state of implementation has shown discrepancies across the EU," while the "range of sanctions varies considerably," with some countries designating infringements as criminal offences and others applying fines and other noncriminal penalties.