Despite the European Union’s embargo on russian timber products, the reality reveals widespread violations. According to an Earthsight investigation published on January 29, 2025, since the sanctions came into effect in July 2022, Russian birch plywood worth over €1.5 billion has entered the markets of every EU member state. The main entry points include Poland, Italy, Germany, Estonia, and Spain.

🌍 How are sanctions being bypassed?
Dishonest companies employ sophisticated schemes to conceal the true origin of the products:

• repackage goods and remove original markings;

• falsify supporting documents, including certificates of origin and “green” labels;

• use legal entities in third countries (such as China, Turkey, and Kazakhstan) that unofficially facilitate transportation to the EU.

These schemes are not isolated cases — they reflect a systemic practice pointing to a lack of enforcement and weak penalties.

🔔 What has already been done?

• Greenpeace has urged the EU to take decisive action and close the loopholes.

• The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a resolution calling for stricter control over sanction evasion.

• The European Commission compiled a list of indicators that may signal violations, such as:

  • presence of birch plywood in shipments;

  • use of companies from intermediary countries;

  • suspicious or economically illogical logistics routes;

  • inconsistencies in documentation.

 

📣 Why does this matter for the furniture industry?
For Ukrainian manufacturers who play by European rules, this situation creates unfair competition and undermines trust in international trade. It is crucial that all market participants follow the same rules — only then can fair competition truly exist.