Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association chief executive Mark Ross said there was some confusion around the new rules, tipped to be implemented in late December, and how they would play out.
He said while the industry supported the idea, it needed more clarity.
“We support that, but the way they’re going about it, it’s going to be really hard to meet the criteria that they put out there for New Zealand exporters to the European Union countries,” Ross said.
He said processors would need to provide documentation detailing where the trees came from before products were processed, and if the forest site was replanted.
“They’ll need to have geolocation data that shows where those forests have come from when it comes to wood products,” he said.
“We will need to have satellite images like GPS co-ordinates showing where those trees were harvested before they were processed.”
He said there could be a challenge for agriculture due to the provision that the export products would not be linked to conversion of natural ecosystems.
“If the land’s harvested then converted into agriculture, then you won’t be able to export those products.
“So if it’s harvested and then replanted, you’ll be fine.”
It comes as New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the EU comes into force this month.
Simultaneously, Export NZ released a report on the agreement called Seizing opportunities through compliance, which detailed the impact of EU tools and provisions like the carbon border adjustment mechanism, green shipping arrangements and the deforestation regulation.
It said for forestry, New Zealand’s incoming legal harvest assurance scheme for timber “may ensure compliance with this EU regulation” is due to begin in 2026 - if all goes ahead.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has extended the consultation period for accepting feedback on a system to ensure timber is harvested legally, with it closing on June 4.
Ross said the wood processing sector will hold workshops with interested parties to help them adjust to the changes, before then searching for possible forest tracing software available in the market.
“But at the moment, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty around what needs to be done,” he said.
“Some people are [saying it will have] significant implications and that trying to get that data would be very difficult in some circumstances.”
But he said New Zealand was in a good position, and believed the sector could carve out some competitive advantage here.
“When it comes to forestry and planting trees, we have good systems in place [regarding] knowing where our products come from.”
In an email to members, the association said it was considering “the approach and service of FSC”, the Forest Stewardship Council certification - which was widely used here already - but said feedback was the scheme alone would not provide the paperwork expected to be needed by European officials.
- RNZ
