The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a resolution to prevent deforestation and forest degradation in line with European standards. The decision was made on November 28 during a regular meeting and was prepared by the Ministry of Economy to ensure access for Ukrainian timber to the European Union market.
The document marks the first step toward full harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, which establishes requirements for verifying the legal and sustainable origin of timber products. According to the regulation, timber harvesting and the production of related products must be legal and must not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation.
To meet these requirements, the Government is launching a pilot project – an electronic exporter’s portal within the Unified State Electronic Timber Accounting System. Businesses will be able to confirm the origin of timber, provide geographic coordinates of harvesting sites, and generate all necessary documents for export to the EU. This will ensure full traceability of timber from the harvesting site to the export point and eliminate the involvement of illegally harvested raw materials in the market.
The project guarantees access for Ukrainian timber to the EU market, reduces corruption risks and the number of illegal logging activities, and contributes to forest conservation and the sustainable development of forestry.
«This decision opens a direct path for Ukrainian producers to the European market. By introducing the electronic exporter’s portal, we will ensure full traceability of timber – from the harvesting site to the export point. This means greater transparency, fewer corruption risks, and full compliance with EU rules on preventing deforestation. Ukrainian timber in the European market will not only be competitive but also legal and environmentally friendly,» emphasized Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The experimental project will run for two years. Upon its completion, the Ministry of Economy will prepare a report and recommendations for improving legislation to fully implement EU requirements.
