WASHINGTON—The International Wood Products Association (IWPA), an international trade association representing the North American imported wood products industry, recently praised a compromise provision to combat illegal logging as part of the Farm Bill adopted by Congress.

The provision targets illegal logging by amending the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to extend protections to plants illegally harvested outside the United States.

A broad industry coalition led an effort to amend the original version to provide forfeiture liability protection for smallbusinesses that have practiced due diligence in their supply chain.

“IWPA applauds Congress and the administration for its commitment to end trade in illegal logging through its global leadership with the President’s Initiative Against Illegal Logging and now through this important provision of the Farm Bill,” said Brent Mc-Clendon, IWPA’s executive vice president. “Efforts such as these will help in assisting countries combat illegal activity and keep forests managed as forests—not destroyed in their conversion to agriculture and ranching.”

According to Ed Korczak, executive director of the National Wood Flooring Association ( NWFA), the Lacey Act is key to the continued sustainable management and harvesting of hardwood and all forests around the world. “It isn’t solely a matter of ensuring equal competitive practices; it is being responsible stewards of our environment.”

IWPA was joined in its efforts by organizations that also included the National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Association of Home Builders, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association and the American Home Furnishings Alliance.

The coalition worked to ensure that the Farm Bill provision draws a clear distinction between “innocent” owners in the supply chain who in good faith trade in wood products, versus those who knowingly commerce in illegal material, McClendon noted.

“Lawmakers agreed [with us] and included a provision to place the burden of proof in civil forfeiture cases on the government as provided by the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act,” McClendon concluded.

For more information, please call the IWPA at 703.820.6696