Here you will find a range of resources that can help with your due diligence process. This page will be updated as new resources become available.
Download
Processor Guidance – Establishing an Illegal Logging Due Diligence System (PDF 203 KB)
Processor Guidance – Establishing an Illegal Logging Due Diligence System (DOCX 78 KB)
Illegal logging Timber Legality Framework risk assessment template for processors (PDF 290 KB)
Illegal logging Timber Legality Framework risk assessment template for processors (DOCX 742 KB)
Illegal logging State Specific Guideline risk assessment template for processors (PDF 290 KB)
Illegal logging State Specific Guideline risk assessment template for processors (DOCX 742 KB)
Illegal logging Regulated Risk Factors risk assessment template for processors (PDF 641 KB)
Illegal logging Regulated Risk Factors risk assessment template for processors (DOCX 1.87 MB)
Request for information notice – Response template for processors (PDF 219 KB)
Request for information notice – Response template for processors (DOCX 233 KB)
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
State Specific Guidelines (SSGs) outline the legal frameworks used in each Australian state to regulate timber harvesting and set out some of the documents that you may be required to attempt to gather for due diligence. This information can help with your due diligence when determining the risk of illegal logging for raw logs grown and processed in Australia.
If an SSG applies to the raw log, or the place in which the raw log is harvested, you must obtain, where reasonably practicable, the information or evidence (such as a certificate, licence or other document) relating to the raw log that is set out in the guideline. When electing to use the State Specific Guideline risk assessment method, you must also use the applicable SSG to complete this step of the due diligence process.
SSGs currently endorsed under Australia’s illegal logging laws are listed below. We continue to work with state jurisdictions to routinely update SSGs. SSGs will be added to the list below as they are updated, outdated and superseded SSGs removed, and the illegal laws amended accordingly. Please check this webpage regularly to ensure you use the current version of SSG documents.
Each SSG is accompanied by a Quick Reference Guide. This provides a high level overview of the SSG’s content.
New South Wales State Specific Guideline
| Superseded document in effect until 12 August 2023 | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
New South Wales State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF  | 293 KB | October 2014 | |
New South Wales State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOCX  | 106 KB | October 2014 | |
| New South Wales State Specific Guideline PDF | 710 KB | October 2014 | |
| New South Wales State Specific Guideline DOC | 803 KB | October 2014 |
| Document in effect as of 13 August 2023 | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Updated New South Wales State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 350 KB | October 2014 | September 2022 |
| Updated New South Wales State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOCX | 309 KB | October 2014 | September 2022 |
| Updated New South Wales State Specific Guideline PDF | 726 KB | October 2014 | September 2022 |
| Updated New South Wales State Specific Guideline DOCX | 675 KB | October 2014 | September 2022 |
Queensland State Specific Guideline
| Superseded document in effect until 12 August 2023 | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensland State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 293 KB | June 2016 | |
| Queensland State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOC | 106 KB | June 2016 | |
| Queensland Specific Guideline (released June 2016) PDF | 1.0 MB | June 2016 | |
| Queensland Specific Guideline (released June 2016) DOCX | 2.0 MB | June 2016 |
| Document in effect as of 13 August 2023 | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Updated Queensland State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 311 KB | June 2016 | June 2022 |
| Updated Queensland State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOCX | 876 KB | June 2016 | June 2022 |
| Updated Queensland Specific Guideline PDF | 925 KB | June 2016 | June 2022 |
| Updated Queensland Specific Guideline DOCX | 907 KB | June 2016 | June 2022 |
South Australia State Specific Guideline
| Document | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 385 KB | October 2014 | April 2021 |
| South Australia State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOC | 262 KB | October 2014 | April 2021 |
| South Australia State Specific Guideline PDF | 3804 KB | October 2014 | April 2021 |
| South Australia State Specific Guideline DOC | 2815 KB | October 2014 | April 2021 |
Tasmania State Specific Guideline
| Document | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasmania State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 268 KB | May 2014 | December 2021 |
| Tasmania State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOC | 111 KB | May 2014 | December 2021 |
| Tasmania State Specific Guideline PDF | 1025 KB | May 2014 | December 2021 |
| Tasmania State Specific Guideline DOC | 1257 KB | May 2014 | December 2021 |
Victoria State Specific Guideline
| Superseded document in effect until 12 August 2023 | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 425 KB | October 2014 | |
| Victoria State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOC | 129 KB | October 2014 | |
| Victoria State Specific Guideline PDF | 582 KB | October 2014 | |
| Victoria State Specific Guideline DOC | 1.4 MB | October 2014 |
| Document in effect as of 13 August | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Updated Victoria State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 349 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
| Updated Victoria State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOCX | 290 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
| Updated Victoria State Specific Guideline PDF | 445 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
| Updated Victoria State Specific Guideline DOCX | 184 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
Western Australia State Specific Guideline
| Superseded document in effect until 12 August 2023 | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Australia State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 647 KB | October 2014 | |
| Western Australia State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOC | 188 KB | October 2014 | |
| Western Australia State Specific Guideline PDF | 3.1 MB | October 2014 | |
| Western Australia State Specific Guideline DOC | 3.8 MB | October 2014 |
| Document in effect as of 13 August 2023 | File size | Released | Revised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Updated Western Australia State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide PDF | 299 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
| Updated Western Australia State Specific Guideline – Quick Reference Guide DOCX | 174 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
| Updated Western Australia State Specific Guideline PDF | 440 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
| Updated Western Australia State Specific Guideline DOCX | 238 KB | October 2014 | October 2022 |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility.
A number of third parties have published materials that can be used to inform your due diligence process. We have included a selection below.
How you use these resources is up to you. However, you need to be aware that you cannot rely on a third party risk assessment to satisfy your due diligence obligations. You still need to undertake your own due diligence process.
If you do use these resources, you should be aware that the information on these websites represents the views of a third party and may not be accurate, up to date, or relevant to your due diligence process.
If you have questions about the information in these resources, you should contact the publisher directly.
Certification schemes resources
These resources may assist with the Timber Legality Framework risk assessment method.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – Public Search Database
The FSC maintains a database with information about certificate holders, logo and label users, certified products, and so on. This information can be used to help verify FSC certification claims.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – Forest Management Certification Standard
The FSC has a forest management certification standard. Their website sets out the principles, criteria and indicators that a forest operation must adhere to before receiving an FSC forest management certification.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - Chain of Custody Standard
The FSC provides a chain of custody certification. Their website includes information on the core requirements behind this standard.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) – Public Search Database
The PEFC maintains a database with relevant information about certificate holders, logo and label users, certified products, and so on. This information can be used to help verify PEFC certification claims.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) – Sustainable Forest Management Standard
The PEFC provides a sustainable forest management standard. Their website sets out the benchmark requirements that must be met to be endorsed by PEFC.
Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) – Chain of Custody Standard
The PEFC provides a chain of custody standard. Their website lays out the requirements and conditions a company must meet for chain of custody certification.
Endangered Species
Australian Government – Trading in endangered species
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)’s website provides advice on the regulatory requirements associated with trading in endangered species, including timber species.
International Union for Conservation of Nature – Redlist of Threatened Species
The IUCN Redlist of Threatened Species lists plants and animals that are facing a high risk of global extinction. This includes information on geographical ranges and potential vulnerability to illegal logging.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – List of Threatened Species
This list includes all threatened flora and threatened ecological communities protected under our environmental legislation. This list may not align with state and territory protected species lists, so they are also worth checking for native species.
New South Wales - Biodiversity Conservation Act
Queensland – Threatened Species Listing Report
South Australia – National Parks and Wildlife Act
Tasmania – List of Threatened Species
Victoria – Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act Threatened List
Western Australia – Threatened Plants
Northern Territory – Threatened Plants
Australian Capital Territory – Threatened Species and Ecological Communities
Timber Legality Resources
Chatham House – Illegal Logging Portal
The Illegal Logging Portal provides information on the trade in illegal timber. This includes an overview of emerging issues and developments, reports, and a searchable database of global news articles.
Preferred by Nature – Timber sourcing hub
Preferred by Nature’s timber sourcing hub includes national timber legality risk assessments, with information on the risks associated with a particular country, and advice on mitigating actions.
Other Resources
Global Timber Tracking Network (GTTN) - Service Provider Directory
GTTN’s Service Provider Directory provides a system to help anyone seeking wood identification services to find information on scientific methods and available laboratories.
Preferred by Nature – Guide to identifying fake documents
Preferred by Nature has produced a guide to identifying fake timber documentation. This includes examples of forged documents, ways of distinguishing between genuine and fake documents, and advice on what to do if you encounter fake documents.
* Disclaimer: The provision of the links to these third party resources does not in any way affect or modify the requirements under Australia’s illegal logging laws. Accessing these resources does not constitute specific compliance with any particular due diligence requirement or other requirements under the laws. The resources are provided solely for your information, if you wish to access them.
The Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy, currency or completeness of any of the third party resources, and expressly disclaims liability for any loss or damage whether due to negligence or otherwise however caused that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the third party resources.
The third party resources are provided for the information of the reader only and should not in any way be construed as an endorsement of any website, publication, resource, organisation or product by the Commonwealth. Conversely, the fact that a particular website, publication, resource, organisation or product is not included should not be taken as any indication of the Commonwealth’s opinion of that website, publication, resource organisation or product.
Neither the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry nor the Commonwealth can accept any responsibility for the content of any material that may be encountered in the third party resources.
Disclaimer
Some publications, not prepared by us, may not meet Australian Government accessibility guidelines. If you require an accessible version, please contact its author.
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