Mizzima

Dutch company, Royal Boogaerdt Timber has been exposed by a leading environmental organisation for circumventing the European Union Timber Regulations (EUTR) by importing Myanmar teak via Croatia into the Netherlands.

The EUTR requires all companies undertake due diligence to trace imported timber back to the very point of felling – a requirement that cannot be met due to the opaque nature of Myanmar’s forestry sector.

Since 2017, EU authorities have taken the position that it is not possible to place Myanmar timber on the EU market without breaching the EUTR, making imports of all Myanmar timber a violation of the law.

Dutch authorities have issued summons against several other companies and associated individuals also implicated in illegal importation of teak from Myanmar.

These companies have attempted to circumvent the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) by routing timber through the Czech Republic.

The action by Dutch prosecutors comes after efforts by Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) campaigners in laying complaints against Dutch companies, providing information to the Dutch authorities and exposing circumvention of the law.

Faith Doherty, Forests Campaigns Leader at EIA said: “The authorities in the Netherlands have been vigilant in enforcing this law.”

“It is particularly important that action is being taken now as it highlights the increasing risks associated with purchasing teak from Myanmar.”

She went on to say that the system for obtaining timber in Myanmar has been “hugely undermined by the military coup that took place on 1 February 2021.”

“The military junta is now in control of all natural resource governance, including the Myanmar Timber Enterprise, the regulator of the export of Myanmar teak. Its revenues will now be under the control of the junta.”

According to reports, trade of Myanmar teak into the Netherlands country has halted, despite a boat-building industry that values Myanmar teak.