New RIBA CPD on EUTR announced

Experts have announced the launch of a new CPD seminar, approved by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), which aims to help architects and designers to understand their obligations under the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR).  

The Regulation, which came into force in March 2013, prohibits placing illegally harvested timber and timber products onto the EU market. FIRA International has been supporting the furniture industry to fully understand and meet their legal obligations when importing, specifying and trading timber and timber products in the European Union.

FIRA’s Research and Consultancy Manager, Dr Asli Tamer Vestlund, who will be running the RIBA-approved CPD short seminar, said: “The EUTR affects the entire furniture supply chain and is still a source of concern for many businesses.

"The first person to place timber and timber products onto the EU market is classed as an ‘Operator’ and so takes on the responsibility of due diligence when first placing these items on the market. This is a significant change and could mean that you have more responsibility than you realise.

“Our new RIBA-CPD seminar is aimed specifically at designers and architects to help them gain an understanding of the EUTR and guide them through their potential legal obligations. There are penalties that could be imposed if a business is found to be non-compliant, so I would recommend taking advantage of this opportunity to learn about this complex, new Regulation.”

The EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) was initiated due to increasing concerns over unsustainable forest management practices and illegal logging. Studies have suggested that approximately 20% of timber and timber products, entering the European market, originate from an illegal source (WWF 2012: http://barometer.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/government_barometer/the_eu_timber_footprint/eu_wood_imports/).

FIRA International’s consultants are widely recognised as furniture industry experts in EUTR. Dr. Asli Tamer Vestlund was recently invited to represent the industry at Chatham House at a workshop about the implementation and enforcement of the EUTR within the furniture industry.  

FIRA’s range of services aim to support architects and designers, this includes the Specifiers’ Guide, a free, online tool which simplifies the specifying process (www.specifierservices.co.uk).

FIRA also offers EU Timber Regulation Awareness Training, a one day course which aims to assist the industry in understanding and meeting their legal obligations when importing, selling and trading timber and timber products in the European Union. The next course date is 21 November 2013.