21 October 2008: Industry set up a traceability system for its wood used worldwide to this effect
 
ACE,  representing Europe’s beverage carton manufacturers and  their paper
board  suppliers,  takes  note  of  the  European  Commission’s  proposal  to
prevent illegally harvested forest products being imported into the EU market. 
 
“We identify fully with the Commission’s objective”, says ACE Director General
Christian  Verschueren,  “and  support  a  legal  framework  which  assigns  to
economic operators a key role in helping to achieve it”.
ACE views the EU proposal as an  important step  in the ongoing  fight against
illegal  logging.  In the context of FLEGT, the call on operators to exercise due
diligence regarding the legality of forest products they import, appears to be
a  reasonable  demand.  It  should  help  create  a  level  playing  field, which  is
essential  if  responsible  operators  are  not  to  be  put  at  a  competitive
disadvantage by free riders who make no effort to control their supply chains.