BiH Council of Ministers bans export of round timber, firewood, and pellets until September

(Patria) - The BiH Council of Ministers today unanimously adopted a decision on the temporary ban on the export of certain wood assortments, firewood, and wood products at a telephone session, proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations.

Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Staša Košarac stated after the session that this decision provides for a temporary ban on the export of round timber, pellets, and firewood until the end of September, i.e., for a period of 90 days.

Košarac emphasized that the price of pellets has increased by 155 percent compared to last year, and that pellet exports in the first quarter increased by 78 percent compared to the same period last year. Firewood prices have also increased by nearly 40 percent. The price of round timber has increased by almost 400 percent, and exports have increased by nearly five percent.

"If this decision had not been made, it would have been a blow to the citizens' budgets in BiH," Košarac said.

After the ban expires, a decision on the possible extension of the export ban will be made based on analyses.

As announced by the BiH Council of Ministers, the goal of this decision is to ensure the necessary quantities for the processing industry, eliminate the threat of serious or irreparable damage to forests in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and prevent a critical shortage of these products for the population and the economy caused by the crisis in the global energy market.

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