The multi-million dollar international trade in Burmese teak is riddled with crime and high-level corruption in Myanmar, driving conflict and human rights abuses..
This study shows how the US Lacey Act, which bans trade in wildlife, fish and plants sold in violation of any foreign law, prohibits timber sold in violation of the European Union Timber Regulation, which bars illegal timber and requires due diligence to be carried out on supply chains to identify risks of illegality.
Australia’s Parliament has voted in new laws banning stolen timber which require all importers to carry out mandatory due diligence on timber and timber products sourced from overseas in a move which sees Australia join the US and European Union as major timber marketplaces closing their doors to stolen wood
Gibson Guitars’ long overdue acknowledgement of Lacey Act violations – made in a Criminal Enforcement Agreement with the Unites States Government – has landed the firm with US$600,000 of penalties for importing illegal wood, setting a clear benchmark for EU government’s implementation of the EU Timber Regulation