Operators and Traders  under the EUTR

The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) puts specific obligations on operators and traders and applies to timber originating in the domestic (EU) market, as well as from third (non-EU) countries such as North America. The information it requires has to be retained for at least five years and be available on request. More on due diligence for operators.

Operators (or importers) are any (natural or legal) person first placing timber on the EU market. They must maintain records of any traders that they supply timber to.  They must implement a due diligence system to minimise the risk of putting illegal timber or any of its derived products on the market.  This has to incorporate:

• information gathering
• risk assessment and risk mitigation activities.

Traders are an operator’s customers and those further down the supply chain. It refers to any (natural or legal) person who sells or buys timber products that have already been placed on the EU market. They must maintain records of:

• the company which supplied the products
• their own customers to whom they supply wood-based panels.