More than three‑and‑a‑half years after sanctions were introduced on imports of Russian and Belarusian wood products, Europe’s leading timber organisations have reaffirmed their “strong and unwavering commitment” to end of Russian timber infiltrating European supply chains.
In a joint declaration published by Timber Development UK (TDUK) overnight, CEI‑Bois, the European Confederation of Woodworking Industries, the European Timber Trade Federation (ETTF), and the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) stressed that “EU and UK sanctions prohibit the purchase, import, or transfer – directly or indirectly – of Russian or Belarusian wood, and all companies must strictly adhere to these rules.”
The federations acknowledged that “residual quantities of prohibited wood regrettably remain in circulation in Europe” despite bans, before condemning the practice. “Operators are legally liable for sanctions violations, whether intentional or by negligence,” the statement warned. “They cannot escape liability by failing to exercise due diligence. In addition to reputational damage, EU and UK operators who violate sanctions risk administrative and criminal penalties,” before calling on national and European authorities to “consistently monitor compliance with sanctions and punish violations accordingly.”
“Our message is clear,” the declaration concluded. “The EU and UK wood industry value chain is united in its determination not to import Russian and Belarusian wood. Integrity is a core value of our industry, and we reject illegal and unethical practices by any company.”
7.5% of the timber used in UK house frames could be linked to Putin’s Russia
The pledge comes amid mounting evidence that Russian timber continues to infiltrate UK and European supply chains under false pretences. In September, Wood Central revealed that up to 7.5 per cent of timber used in UK housing was illegally sourced from Russia.
That is according to the Australian-based forensic firm Source Certain, which traced consignments labelled as Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian back to Russian forests by combining logistics data with wood‑DNA analysis. According to Cameron Scadding, Source Certain’s founder, each region leaves a distinct isotopic signature in its timber, “an intrinsic bar code” that reflects where the wood was grown.
Investigators warn that this black market undermines sanctions designed to deprive Russia of funding for its war in Ukraine. Because Russian timber plantations are state‑owned, smuggling revenues are believed to contribute directly to the Kremlin’s war effort, Scadding told the Guardian.
In February, NGO Earthsight reported that nearly £1.5 billion worth of Russian wood had been laundered into Europe since sanctions took effect, with some material already entering British homes. Scadding noted that deception is difficult to detect even for major importers, saying some companies may be complicit while others are unaware.
Divya Seshamani, managing partner at Greensphere Capital, which backs the Source Certain research, warned that the issue affects the entire construction sector and disadvantages British foresters, who face higher compliance costs under sustainability regulations. “If you’re a forester in Wales, you just can’t keep up with the prices of some of the imports, because you’re doing everything by the book, and you’re competing against imports that are not doing anything by the book,” she said.
