The Polish government is preparing new legislation that would classify wood as a strategic national commodity in a bid to curb raw wood exports and safeguard domestic supply. The move follows a sharp increase in wood exports over the past year, which officials say is harming the local economy and manufacturing sector.
Speaking on 30 May, Development and Technology Minister Krzysztof Paszyk announced that the draft law has been in development since March and will be finalised "in the coming weeks." The proposal will allow authorities to better trace the origin and destination of wood and ensure greater oversight of the supply chain.
Paszyk warned that large volumes of Polish wood are currently being exported to countries such as China, only to return as imported finished goods. He stressed the importance of the industry, which comprises 40,000 companies and employs nearly one million people, contributing over 5% of Poland's GDP.
In parallel, Paszyk called for similar export restrictions to be adopted at the EU level, highlighting the need to keep resources within the bloc.
The announcement comes amid wider debate in the European Union over its new anti-deforestation regulation. The law imposes varying levels of import checks based on a country's assessed risk to global forests. Only four nations: Russia, Belarus, Myanmar and North Korea, are currently classified as "high risk", sparking criticism over what environmental groups call a politically biased approach.
Julian Oram of the NGO Mighty Earth called the EU's classification system "bizarre", arguing that it prioritises political interests over environmental concerns. An open letter from 40 NGOs in January also urged the European Commission to apply more objective environmental and human rights standards in its risk assessments.
The proposed Polish legislation aims to counteract these external pressures and reinforce the country's economic sovereignty.
Source: www.caliber.az