The Federal Customs Service yesterday reduced the number of customs checkpoints that will process unfinished timber exports from 668 to 128
with proper technology for assessing timber cargo. Kindling, sawdust,
milling byproducts, pulp and other rough forms of wood are subject to
the new procedure as well. Finished wood products will be handled as
before. The new measure is intended to reduce illegal logging in
Russia. The Ministry of Natural Resources reports that 7 million cu. m. of wood was cut illegally in the Russian
Far East last year and annual illegal logging throughout the country
tops 21 million cu. m. annually.
Legal logging in Russia last year amounted to 180-190 million cu. m.
Russian Minister of Natural Resources Yury Trutnev stated that “a whole
criminal sector” has sprung up in the forest industry in the border
regions of the Russian Far East “in which representatives of all
supervisory and law enforcement agencies participate.” Export points
for timber were reduced from 600 to 421 in Siberia in 2006. In 2007,
120 criminal cases were initiated by customs authorities involving
timber and more than 4 million cu. m. of wood material was confiscated.
Observers say that, while the new measure will reduce opportunities for
illegal timber exports, it creates opportunities for greater official
corruption, which may negate its benefits. Also, it will cause delays
in shipping as lines form a customs checkpoints. Observers suggest that
registering timber exports would be more effective in fighting criminal
activities.
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