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EU Faces €1.5 Billion Illegal Birch Plywood Crisis

7/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The EU has seen a staggering €1.5 billion worth of illegal birch plywood from Russia and Belarus flood in since sanctions were imposed in mid-2022. A controversial 'no-risk' category could exempt these imports from scrutiny, jeopardizing the integrity of sanctions and the EU Deforestation Regulation, with eight major importers backing this dangerous move.

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Story summary

The EU has seen a staggering €1.5 billion worth of illegal birch plywood from Russia and Belarus flood in since sanctions were imposed in mid-2022. A controversial 'no-risk' category could exempt these imports from scrutiny, jeopardizing the integrity of sanctions and the EU Deforestation Regulation, with eight major importers backing this dangerous move.