Malaysia & EU To Start Talks On Illegal Timber Trade - AFP

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia and the European Union will next month begin negotiations on a pact to prevent illegal timber from being exported to European nations, a minister said. "This negotiation may take about a year but once an agreement is reached, Malaysia's timber will not be having problems entering the EU market in the future," Plantations and Commodities Minister Peter Chin said.

Chin told the state Bernama news agency that Malaysia will host the first round of negotiations on the implementation of the forest law enforcement, governance and trade agreement with the European Union in November.

The timber certification system is aimed at curbing illegal logging and timber sales and to help Malaysia preserve its endangered natural forests.

Malaysia's exports of timber products to the EU are worth 7.0 billion ringgit (1.7 billion dollars) annually and its commitment to consider the pact is aimed at ensuring its exports to EU are not banned, Chin said.

EDIT

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/09102006/323/malaysia-eu-start-talks-illegal-timber-trade.html