STIGA RM supports the initiative to fight the import of sanctioned and smuggled plywood into Europe
One of the leading Latvian wood processing companies, STIGA RM, has joined the World Forest ID initiative to create an international database for the laboratory identification of the origin of birch plywood. The project gathers European producers of birch plywood and aims to identify and exclude sanctioned and smuggled wood from the European Union (EU) market.
The World Forest ID database is based on extensive sampling and isotopic analysis, allowing one to determine the geographical origin of birch with high precision, i.e., where the raw material for the production of plywood originates. Currently, the second phase of the project is underway, identifying regions from which no data were previously available, including Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. This geographical expansion will significantly improve the effectiveness of the database in identifying sanctions violations.
The integration of scientific verification methods as part of the sanctions enforcement mechanism provides a powerful, data-based tool that will help both market operators and monitoring authorities to verify the origin of birch plywood. This strengthens control over the circulation of wood-based materials and protects legal supply chains.
The project was widely discussed at the European Panel Federation (EPF) Annual General Meeting in Berlin, where the EPF plywood product group meeting was also held.
“Legislation alone cannot prevent sanctioned plywood from entering the market – targeted action is needed to effectively restrict this flow. We, as an EPF member, are actively involved in the World Forest ID project, working not only on the development of the database but also on educating our customers on verification methods for wood origin. For example, in Poland, the initiative of producers to inform their customers about the use of sanctioned plywood and its consequences led to a reduction of smuggling by more than 50% within a year. By combining such a proactive approach with scientifically sound verification methods such as World Forest ID, countries will have an effective tool to significantly strengthen controls and protect the legal market,” says Viesturs Krēvics, Director of the STIGA RM Kuldīga Plywood Factory.
Sampling and database development is expected to continue until the end of this year, but the solution already allows the origin of birch plywood to be determined using the available samples. The analysis results are available within ten days, making World Forest ID a practical tool to protect the market and ensure supply chain transparency, thus contributing to the fair and sustainable development of the industry.