PERTH, Australia – The Forest Products Commission in Australia and the Switzerland-based Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has classified timber from Russia and Belarus as "conflict timber" and therefore cannot be used in PEFC-certified products. 

This clarification is initially valid for six months. The forest certification groups plan to monitor the situation.

Advice is being sought from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE)  on whether timber from Russia and Belarus will be further restricted in Australia and New Zealand and what the implications are for timber that was enroute to Australia and New Zealand prior to the statement made on March 4, 2022.