More than 90% of Australians want clearer Country of Origin labelling on timber products, according to a major national survey by consumer group Choice. The survey of 7,200 people found that almost all respondents said clearer labelling would influence their purchasing decisions, signalling strong public demand for transparency in the timber market.
And those findings are of little surprise to the Australian Forest Products Association – the peak body for Australia’s $24 billion forest products supply chain, which has been calling for mandatory Country of Origin labelling on timber for years. According to Diana Hallam, AFPA CEO, the results reflect what the industry hears daily from builders, suppliers and even consumers.
“We welcome and applaud the latest Choice findings on timber labelling, as this compelling evidence supports and endorses what we hear every day from the building and construction sector, as well as everyday Australians,” Hallam said.
“Country of Origin labelling is an important reform that allows consumers to choose to buy Australian timber and better understand the potential environmental and sourcing implications of imported wood.”
Hallam said the need for clearer labelling is growing as more imported timber enters the Australian market. “With a growing amount of dubious, imported timber products flooding the Australian marketplace, including from China, it’s critical that consumers can compare and consider the origins of timber products.”
And AFPA has been advocating for mandatory labelling since last year’s Federal election platform, arguing that consumers should be able to easily identify locally grown, sustainably produced timber. “By providing easy‑to‑understand Country of Origin labelling, consumers can choose climate‑friendly, sustainably produced and Australian‑grown timber,” Hallam said.
63% of imported products don’t carry the correct country of origin information
A 2025 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) report found that while Australian‑grown timber was correctly labelled, 63 per cent of imported samples carried private certifications rather than clear origin information. Whilst a separate Source Certain traceability study for DAFF, covered by Wood Central last year, found that half of Australia’s imported timber failed traceability testing.
- To read more about the growing volumes of LVL now arriving at Australian ports, predominantly from China, click here for Wood Central’s special feature last month.
