Position on illegal logging

Ex. No. 563-00-563

MR RUMEN CHRISTOV

CHAIRMAN OF

COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

MRS. DESISLAVA TANEVA

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD

Mr. BOZHIDAR LUKARSKI

MINISTER OF THE ECONOMY

DEAR LORD CHRIST,

DEAR MRS TANEVA,

DEAR MR LUKARSKI,

The Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria supports the expressed position of the Association of Bulgarian Wood Producers, the Branch Chamber of the Woodworking and Furniture Industry and the Bulgarian Technological Platform of the Forestry Sector.

As an organization representing business, KRIB supports all actions aimed at introducing strict rules and norms, guaranteeing both the cultivation of forests and the legality of forestry activities conducted in them.

Defending this position, we believe that the absence of effective mechanisms to control and sanction illegal timber harvesting deprives the woodworking and furniture industry of a rhythmic supply of raw materials and leads to production stoppages, reduction of production capacity and financial losses on the part of woodworking companies.

We are addressing you in connection with the discussion that has been going on for more than a month regarding the management of forests in Bulgaria and the upcoming changes in the regulations aimed at their protection and preservation.

We hope that the prepared moratorium will help to structure and guarantee the Bulgarian processors with raw material for an extended period of time.

With respect,

Eugene Ivanov

Ex. director