site.btaParliament Votes Temporary Suspension of Unprocessed Timber Export, Shipment

Parliament Votes Temporary
Suspension of
Unprocessed Timber Export, Shipment


Sofia, March 4 (BTA) - Parliament voted Wednesday to impose a
temporary suspension on the export and shipment of unprocessed
timber in a bid to crack down on illegal logging. The moratorium
will be in effect for three months from the day of its
gazetting.

During these three months, legislative changes will have to be
proposed to lead to a lasting solution of the problem of illegal
logging.

The nationalist Ataka insisted that the moratorium be effective
indefinitely but their motion was voted down.

Illegal tree felling and uncontrolled deforestation are widely
believed to have caused devastating flash floods that hit many
parts of Bulgaria in recent years.

Close to 70 per cent of timber harvested in this country is
exported in the form of firewood.

While timber export is suspended, the Agriculture Ministry
intends to hold talks with the wood processing, furniture and
pulp and paper industries towards signing a long-term framework
agreement for guaranteeing supply of round timber until this
year's end.

Agriculture Minister Dessislava Tanova has already warned that
the moratorium would distort the timber market, cause default on
effective contracts signed by Bulgarian companies and go
against EU rules. Her Ministry has proposed other measures
against illegal logging, including suspension of VAT refunds for
timber export, revisions of the logging schedules, forest
certification and strict monitoring of the harvested timber.

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