Federal Government Gives Consent: Ban on Export of Timber Assortments Extended

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - At the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry, the FBiH Government, at today's session in Mostar, adopted an opinion agreeing with the Proposal of the Decision on the temporary ban on the export of certain timber assortments, which the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH submitted on January 26, 2023.

This decision, whose implementation is proposed until May 31, 2023, temporarily prohibits the export of certain timber assortments in order to ensure the necessary quantities for the processing industry and to eliminate the threat of serious or irreparable damage to forests in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The temporary ban applies to the export of timber assortments classified under eleven tariff codes, which include unprocessed wood.

As explained by this state ministry, the proposal for this decision was made based on consultations and meetings with competent entity institutions.

The decision proposed that upon its entry into force, the Decision on the temporary ban on the export of certain timber assortments and wood products, which was in effect until January 31, 2023, would cease to be valid.

That decision also temporarily banned the export of the same timber assortments. Therefore, by adopting the new Decision, the temporary ban on the export of these assortments would be extended until the end of May 2023.

The explanation of the newly proposed decision also stated that BiH has a developed wood processing industry that employs a large number of workers, and whose survival depends on the regular supply of certain timber assortments.

Therefore, timber assortments represent essential and strategic goods for BiH. In this regard, it is particularly important to ensure ecologically and economically sustainable management of forest resources.