The Webinar was hosted by EPF and SPPDwP (the Polish national association) member, Paged, co-organised with the EPF Plywood Product Group and partners including World Forest ID and the legal firm Van Bael & Bellis. More than 400 registrations were received and 366 online participants from more than 30 countries attended the Webinar.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In response to the increasing challenges posed by illegal plywood imports from Russia and Belarus, this webinar aimed at addressing the critical need for responsible sourcing and compliance within the European wood industry. The discussions focused on the legal ramifications of sourcing from sanctioned regions and present strategies to strengthen trade compliance and sustainability efforts across Europe.
This webinar’s aims were mainly twofold:
- Sharing knowledge with plywood company customers, including distributors from France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK, about the impact of illegal Russian and Belarussian plywood imports on the European industry, economy, sustainability, and ethics.
- Establishing a first step to further local country-wise webinars organised in local languages by local Timber/Plywood/Wood Processing Associations
AGENDA OVERVIEW
11:00 – 11:10 AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker: Jarosław Michniuk, EPF Board Member, CEO of Paged Morąg and Paged Meble
11:10 – 11:30 AM | Current State of Illegal Plywood Imports in Europe and its Impacts
Speaker: Mārtiņš Lācis, EPF Executive Board Member and Chair of Plywood Product Group and Executive Board Member and Head of Marketing, Sales and Logistics in AS Latvijas Finieris
11:30 – 11:50 AM | Legal Risks of Non-Compliance with EU Sanctions
Speaker: Yuriy Rudyuk, Partner, Van Bael & Bellis
11:50 AM – 12:10 PM | Innovative Solutions for the Verification of Timber Origin
Speaker: Victor Deklerck, Director of Science, World Forest ID
12:10 – 13:00 PM | Q&A and Closing Remarks
Moderated by: Magdalena Kicińska, Head of Communication, Paged Morąg
PRESS RELEASE is available here.
