Australia’s illegal logging law reforms
As of 3 March 2025, Australia’s illegal logging laws have changed. Importantly, this includes changes to due diligence requirements for importers and processors of regulated timber and timber products.
The Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 has been updated to ensure it remains fit-for-purpose and aligns with international best practice. The new Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024 replace the previous Illegal Logging Regulation 2012 and outline the updated due diligence requirements.
We have updated our guidance material accordingly and strongly encourage our regulated community to ensure you are familiar with all changes and what it means for you. Please visit our resources for importers or resources for processors webpages to access this material.
Visit our legislation review and consultation page for information on the extensive review process that informed changes to these laws.
Australia’s illegal logging prohibition laws
Since 2012, Australia’s illegal logging prohibition laws have been in place to combat illegal logging and promote the trade of legal timber products.
These laws are set out in the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 and the Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024.
If you import wood, pulp or paper products into Australia, or process Australian grown raw logs, these laws affect you. You have legal responsibilities and need to know your obligations.
Under Australian law, illegal logging means ‘the harvesting of timber in contravention of the laws of the country where the timber is harvested’.
This includes a wide range of illegal activities, such as:
- logging of protected species
- logging in protected areas
- logging with fake or illegal permits
- using illegal harvest methods
By complying with the laws, you are doing your part to combat the destructive impacts of trade of illegally logging and trade in illegally logged timber. You will also be supporting local investment, profitability and jobs.
Watch a video explaining why Australia has the illegal logging laws
Illegal logging transcript DOCX [31 KB]
Illegal logging is a major global problem. The theft, laundering and trade of illegal timber happens across the world, in all types of forests. Driven mostly by profit, illegal logging has negative impacts on forest ecosystems, communities and economies.
Illegal logging has been linked to:
- organised crime
- civil wars
- murder
- corruption
- species extinction
- environmental destruction
The United Nations and Interpol estimate that illegal logging costs the global community up to $240 billion each year. This makes it the largest environmental crime by value in the world.
Australia is not immune to the trade of illegally logged timber. It is estimated that up to 10%, or approximately $500 million, of our annual timber imports could come from high-risk sources every year. We have also seen isolated cases of high-value Australian timber being illegally logged.
Your responsibilities
Australia’s illegal logging laws place different obligations on different people:
Importers
If you import wood, pulp, or paper products into Australia you have legal responsibilities. You need to ensure you are not importing products that contain illegally logged timber.
Read information for importers.
Domestic processors
If you process Australian grown raw logs, you have legal responsibilities. You need to ensure you are not processing illegally logged timber.
Read information for processors.
Customs brokers
Customs brokers are not directly affected by the illegal logging laws.
However, your clients may ask for help understanding their legal responsibilities.
Read information for customs brokers.
Overseas suppliers
Overseas suppliers are not directly affected by the illegal logging laws.
However, your Australian customers may ask for information about where the timber in your wood, pulp and paper products has come from. They will also need evidence that it has been legally harvested.
Read information for overseas suppliers.
Exporting from Australia
Businesses exporting timber products from Australia are not directly affected by Australia’s illegal logging laws. However, you may have other legal responsibilities and your products may be subject to other countries’ illegal logging laws.
For more information on exporting Australian timber, please see Wood Export Licensing.
Reporting illegal timber
We are always interested to hear about potential illegal timber sources. If you have information about trade in potentially illegally logged timber, you can call us on 1800 803 006 for a confidential discussion or provide this information anonymously via this online form: Report Illegal Logging.
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