Imports are legal . They are accompanied by the necessary permits , documents , and paperwork that allow them to be traded legally and sustainably under international and national laws and regulations . This trade has been approved by government officials from both the country of export and country of import .
imported woods :
AN ESTABLISHED CHAIN OF LEGALITY
Consumers and importers agree : imported wood is beautiful , versatile , and economical . Those who trade and buy imported wood products also agree that they must be legal .
The latest flurry of news reports on illegal logging and headline-driven lawsuits by environmental pressure groups may be prompting some to ask , “ Is this material legal ?” Maybe you are even asking yourself , “ Can I be sure ?”
The short answer is an emphatic yes – imports are legal . They are accompanied by the necessary permits , documents , and paperwork that allow them to be traded legally and sustainably under international and national laws and regulations . This trade has been approved by government officials from both the country of export and country of import .
Illegal logging does happen , both domestically and internationally . While this is an unfortunate reality , studies have shown time and again that most illegally harvested wood never enters into international trade . A collaborative report by Seneca Creek Associates and Wood Resources International found that , “ Most illegally produced timber is used domestically and does not enter international trade . The suspicious volume of roundwood that enters international trade represents on the order of just 1 percent of global production for both softwood and hardwood .”
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