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Archived press release

Rainforests say thanks to meacher

28 July 2000

FOE today welcomed Environment Minister Michael Meacher's announcement thatGovernment Departments would cut buying of illegal and unsustainable timber.

The move to protect the world's rainforests follows a review of the Government's timberpurchasing policy begun when Friends of the Earth exposed plans to buy illegally loggedBrazilian mahogany by the Cabinet Office (for Jack Cunningham's desk) and by the Ministryof Defence (for panelling warships). Since then FOE has been discussing the new policy withthe Government and the MoD.

FOE forests campaigner Matt Phillips said:

"This is good news for the forests and a victory for FOE. Michael Meacher and theGovernment have taken an important step. Too many timber buyers accept dodgycertificates, half-baked assurances from loggers and iffy industry assurance schemes.So this move is long overdue. But there is a huge task ahead. Ministers may know whatto do, but Government buyers are a long way behind. Mr Meacher must ensure this isnot just a paper commitment. We must stop illegally logged and unsustainable timbersfrom reaching Britain."