Passage of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024

This special edition e-update provides an update on progress of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Amendment (Strengthening Measures to Prevent Illegal Timber Trade) Bill 2024 (the Bill). 

On 9 September 2024, the Bill was passed by the Australian Parliament and received Royal Assent on 17 September 2024. You can see the legal text of the Bill on the Federal Register.

What does this mean for me?

While this is a significant development for progress of reforms to Australia's illegal logging laws, it is important to note that obligations under existing laws remain the same. The current Act and Regulation are still in force. Regulated entities must continue to meet their due diligence obligations under existing laws. The exact timing of the changeover to the new arrangements has not yet been determined. However, we anticipate a transition period before the Regulation's sunsetting date of 1 April 2025. We will provide updates via our website and this newsletter when details are available.

What does the Bill do?

The Bill introduces new powers that will allow the department to:

• use timber identification technologies to verify species and origin claims on timber products
• address noncompliance in more ways 
• publish information such as anonymous timber testing results and details of contraventions of the laws 
• perform more efficient and effective compliance audits. 

The Bill also provides for the replacement of the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 with the Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024 (the rules).

What about changes to due diligence requirements?

We are continuing to develop the Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules. These are intended to replace the existing Regulation at the same time as the Bill comes into force. The rules will streamline the due diligence process for timber importers and processors while effectively combatting illegally logged timber from entering the market. 

Public consultation on the draft rules closed on 13 September 2024. We are now working through submissions and feedback received. We would like to extend our thanks to all those that provided written submissions and feedback on the draft rules. If you missed our webinar on the draft rules, you can view the recording along with the Q&A session on our Have your Say page.

What's next?

The exact timing for when the current Act and Regulation will cease to be in force and the new Bill and rules will come into effect is not yet determined. However, we anticipate a transition period sometime before April 2025. Until then, current due diligence requirements under the existing Regulation remain in force. 

We will continue to keep you updated on the process and provide notice before the new legislation comes into effect. We will provide supporting guidance material when the time comes to assist you in understanding the changes to your due diligence requirements.

For more information on the illegal logging law reform process to date, visit our legislation reviews and consultation page.

Further information

• See the department's illegal logging website for information and resources
• Email the department's compliance branch
• Call the department during business hours (8.30 am to 5.30 pm) on 1800 657 313 or +61 2 6272 3933 outside Australia