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- Tweaking the kwila rules: Q&A
Tweaking the kwila rules: Q&A
You may (or may not) have read that we're making some tweaks to our policy around listing kwila products on the site. Here's a quick run down on what it all means.
Why have you done this?
We're putting some rules in place because we think it's the right thing to do. There is an issue around the sustainable and legal harvesting of kwila, and we think applying common sense rules around some specific high-risk products is a good idea. The New Zealand government has voluntary guidelines in place around the sale of kwila so our approach aligns with that too.
Who will the new rules affect?
They will affect anyone planning to list new kwila furniture or decking products. They will not affect the sale of second-hand kwila products.
What will sellers need to do?
Sellers will need to be able to show us that the new kwila products they are selling have been certified by one of two accreditation bodies: either the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) or the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Both have been given the thumbs up by New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), and its Australian equivalent (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).
When will they come into effect?
We've announced the rule change today, and we're giving sellers a 10-week window to get their house in order. The new policy will apply from 15 December 2010.
Where can I find out more info?
MAF have some really useful info on illegal logging and we're in the process of putting together some information in our Site help too.