Evidence of serious repeated violations of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) by a trader of Myanmar teak was today submitted to German and European enforcement authorities by the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
For three decades, the multi-million dollar international trade in Burmese teak has been riddled with crime and high-level corruption, driving conflict and human rights abuses in Myanmar.
Determining that stand-alone laws in the EU and USA to combat illegal timber trade can be used in concert, EIA reported the US distributors of two of the UK’s largest luxury yacht manufacturers to the US Department of Justice after investigations revealed Burmese teak traded in breach of EU rules entered supply chains.
Our research reveals that Burmese teak entering the supply chains of the UK’s two largest yacht builders, Sunseeker International and Princess Yachts International, was traded in breach of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR)
Following our evidence that Danish timber company Keflico violated the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), Danish authorities have made a ruling by which injunctions have been placed on all Danish operators that put Burmese teak on the market. This sets a clear precedent for other EUTR Competent Authorities.
Swedish enforcement officials have successfully prosecuted a trader of Myanmar teak, Almtra Nordic, under the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) which bans placing illegal or high risk wood on the EU market