Council of Ministers of BiH extends ban on export of logs and pellets until the end of January 2023

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The Council of Ministers of BiH, at an extraordinary telephone session, adopted a Decision on the temporary ban on the export of certain forest timber assortments and wood products until January 31, 2023.

The ban on the export of certain forest timber assortments and wood products applies to 12 tariff codes and includes logs and wood pellets, aiming to prevent shortages and mitigate the consequences for the population and economy caused by rising prices and the crisis in the global energy market.

The Decision was made in accordance with the initiatives of the Government of Republika Srpska and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after it was determined that the previously adopted decision did not achieve its objectives. This primarily relates to the enormous increase in prices of certain timber assortments and wood products, which is not based on the real costs of their production but is formed based on international market price movements, which the domestic market cannot follow.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH is tasked with, within its competencies and in coordination with other competent institutions at all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina, finding a way to introduce export restrictions for certain forest timber assortments and wood products, in accordance with the submitted initiatives of the entity competent institutions.

Upon the expiry of this Decision, the Council of Ministers of BiH will extend the protective measures provided for by this Decision, upon the proposal and based on the report of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, until the objectives of introducing the temporary export ban are met.

The Council of Ministers of BiH may review the application of this Decision even before its expiry if its objectives are met, based on the submitted report of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

The Decision enters into force on the day of its adoption and will be published in the "Official Gazette of BiH" and the official gazettes of the entities.

On the day this Decision enters into force, the previously adopted Decision on the temporary ban on the export of certain forest timber assortments and wood products, adopted at the 76th extraordinary session of the Council of Ministers of BiH on September 20, 2022, shall cease to be valid.