Written question asked by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative) on Monday, 6 February 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 February 2012. It was answered by Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 20 February 2012 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

EU External Trade: Peru

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 January 2012, Official Report, column 37WS, on trade policy (opt-ins), what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects on the level of illegal logging in the Colombian and Peruvian Amazon of the EU-Andean (Peru and Colombia) Free Trade Agreement.

Answer: The EU's Sustainability impact assessment of the EU-Andean Agreement identified that increased market access for processed timber products could increase deforestation trends, including through illegal logging.The agreement's sustainable development chapter contains provisions that are designed to mitigate this. All parties have committed to improve forest law enforcement and governance and promote trade in legal and sustainable forest products, such as developing mechanisms that allow verification of the legal origin of timber products, strengthening the role of independent supervision institutions and voluntary mechanisms for forest certification.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 94586; 540 c549W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Trade Policy (Opt-ins)
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects: EU external trade Peru
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk