A Danish packaging company is under scrutiny from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen) for allegedly importing Russian birch plywood without proper documentation. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, importing Russian timber has become illegal, necessitating stringent checks for Danish businesses to ensure compliance.
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Despite multiple requests for documentation, the company, Granby Pack, failed to provide the necessary due diligence concerning its imports, prompting the agency to issue a formal notice. The agency has warned that failure to comply could result in a police report. This action follows a nine-month period during which the agency sought clarity on the timber imported by Granby Pack.
In 2021, Denmark imported Russian plywood worth 120 million kroner before the EU sanctions took effect. Jakob Rygg Klaumann, director of the Danish Wood Association, has highlighted the issue of circumvented sanctions, noting that Russian birch plywood often enters the EU via countries like Turkey and Kazakhstan. He argues that these loopholes enable the import of illegal goods, which could finance Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Klaumann calls for a coordinated European effort to combat illegal timber imports, emphasising the need for increased resources for enforcement agencies to ensure effective monitoring and compliance.
Granby Pack has yet to comment on the agency's notice.
Source: www.wood-supply.dk