How simple to add all illegally logged timber to the list. I understand that the Government & National positions are very simiar - in that doing such would ‘penalise’ the innocent along with the guilty. How so?

Documentation, could easily be required of the importer to prove conclusively that the timber was legally logged. Merely another document, among many that have to be provided. The list is quite long I’m sure.

Another objection is cost. Initially there is a small cost in obtaining documentation, but this is soon absorbed and becomes routine, but admittedly another small cost to add to the sale price of the product. Who pays? The consumer, not the importer or the legal logger, and most would be happy to pay.

Those who are not happy to pay this small added cost should be told, please go ahead then and import whatever timber you wish. However illegally logged timber will be confiscated, and a large fine levied against you. Prison follows for a second offence.

I fail to see where the problem is with this approach for any reasonably minded person. Who would gladly continue to pay for and consume any product that is so obviously illegally produced, let alone any damage that may be caused to forests (& ultimately the planet) around the world.

Timber stolen from a plantation here in NZ and then marketed would ensure a large fine and maybe a prison sentence if discovered. How is a company which markets illegally ’stolen’ timber from anywhere else somehow not covered by a similar law or regulation? Mysterious !

We severely punish importers of illegal substances such as Cannibas, Heroin, P, etc. Please tell me the difference.