After the Netherlands: British authorities sanctions 14 Cameroon timber companies ⁰

14 importers of timber from Cameroon have been sanctioned by UK authorities responsible for the application and enforcement of the Wood Regulations of the European Union Cameroon Concord News has learned.  The sanctions were made public by Chatham House London and follow those already issued by the Netherlands on March 9, 2016. They revolve around the exploitation and illegal trade of wood from the Cameroonian forest ranked among the richest in biodiversity in the Congo basin.

These sanctions supported by the leadership of Greenpeace have confirmed rumors that Wood from Cameroon is the subject of a thorough review by the European Union. The list of the 14 importers has not been published by the British government. However, a leading Greenpeace figure in Cameroon was quoted as saying that the companies are identifiable.

The CPDM government had long been cautioned by the EU following its failure to apply strict forestry rules.  Of these 14 importers, 6 received a warning for corrective action while warning letters were served to 7 operators. Since the entry into force in 2010 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) Cameroon has not made much effort to fight against illegal logging.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News)