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Official statement to verify legality of New Zealand forestry exports

Xinhua, June 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

The New Zealand government is moving to protect the country's forestry exports as more markets introduce rules to combat illegal logging.

From June 15, the Ministry for Primary Industries will issue information statements to exporters to attach to products going to markets that require verification that trees are sustainably harvested.

New Zealand's legislation meant that its planted forests were produced sustainably, Associate Primary Industries Minister Jo Goodhew said in a statement Thursday.

"New Zealand has a comprehensive regulatory system covering the legality and sustainability of the harvesting of our planted forests. We want to help our exporters tell this story," said Goodhew.

"The government supports efforts to combat illegal logging, and systems to verify the legality of wood products in the wider Asia- Pacific region."

Australia and the European Union already have laws regulating the legality of imported forestry products, and Indonesia is drawing up regulations.

Last year, New Zealand exported forestry products with a total value of 871 million NZ dollars (621.8 million U.S. dollars) to the three markets, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries. Endi