In January 2021, as a result of the UK leaving the European Union, the United Kingdom Timber Regulations (UKTR) replaced the EU Timber Regulations (EUTR) in the UK.

The provisions of the UKTR mirror those of the EUTR, requiring a set of procedures to ensure the risk of illegally harvested timber entering the UK market is minimised. However, the Regulation does not automatically recognise in-scope products imported from the EU as low risk. Therefore all in-scope products whether from the EU or outside the EU will have to be risk assessed with any risk mitigated before placement on the UK market

Another critical difference is between goods received in Northern Ireland from the UK and those received in Northern Ireland from the EU:

• UK products received in Northern Ireland will be subject to EUTR risk assessment
• Goods arriving from the EU into Northern Ireland will be deemed as being transported within the internal EU market and will require no risk assessment
• Goods arriving from Northern Ireland into the UK will not require a risk assessment.

The table below summarises which assessments are required:

The Regulatory body for EUTR in NI, and UKTR in England, Scotland and Wales are DEFRA.  Both regulations will be enforced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), checking that appropriate records are maintained by traders and operators, ensuring that the due diligence systems of operators are fit for purpose, and verifying FLEGT licences.

It is important to remember that FLEGT licences initially received in the EU for goods subsequently transported to the UK will not automatically be accepted in the UK without appropriate checking of their authenticity, including verification of the supply chain from the EU.