20.02.2026
On 9 and 16 February 2026, ATIBT and UICCB co-organised online consultation workshops on the proposed revision template of the Timber Trade Portal (TTP) website.
More than sixty participants – importers, traders, professional organisations, certification bodies and NGOs – attended the session to validate the main orientations of the future version of the TTP platform. The updated portal aims to support companies and Competent Authorities in achieving compliance with the access to market regulations, such as European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), but also Lacey Act, etc.
TTP update objectives
The existing platform, initially developed for the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), must evolve to integrate the new requirements of the EUDR, which will enter into application in December 2026.
The main objective is to transform the TTP into an operational risk analysis and due diligence tool, specifically tailored to the needs of timber sector operators under the EUDR framework (and other access to market regulations).
The revision primarily concerns the structure of the country profiles, which form the core of the portal. The proposed template reorganises the existing tabs to align them with a structured risk assessment approach.
The “Forest Context” tab would become “Context and Risks”, directly integrating indicators on deforestation and forest degradation, as well as risk dashboards based on sources such as Transparency International, WWF and the European Commission (country Benchmarking).
The “Timber Industry” tab would evolve into “Supply”, with the aim of better mapping supply chains and identifying risk levels depending on the source (natural forest, plantation, concessions, etc.). This section would include practical mapping tools and model supply chain examples by country.
A major revision also concerns the “Key Documents” section, which would be restructured around seven categories corresponding to EUDR requirements:
Each category would present a maximum of two core documents, accompanied by visual examples to facilitate verification.
The legal framework section would now integrate CITES aspects as well as the broader environmental and social requirements introduced by the EUDR, and would provide practical tools for import and export licence applications.
User Expectations and Feedback
During the discussion, several points were raised:
• Risk thresholds and Corruption Perception Index (CPI): need to define a clear and methodologically justified threshold for classifying a country as “risky.” Proposal to harmonize this threshold with other organizations (FSC, PEFC, OLB, etc.) in order to avoid contradictory approaches
• Display of country indicators: question about the use of a color code (e.g., red for a low CPI) that could give an overly negative view of a country when risks may vary depending on the region and context.
• Distinction between regional risks: need to differentiate between situations within the same country (e.g., Brazil, Republic of Congo) to avoid a uniform approach.
• Production forests – country data: request for clarification of the areas indicated (e.g., Republic of Congo), clearly distinguishing between natural production forests, plantations, and concessions, and ensuring the consistency of the figures published.
• Updating regulatory information: need to clearly indicate developments such as the ban on log exports (e.g., Republic of Congo since 2023, except with special authorization).
• Geospatial analysis: desire to better describe the strengths and limitations of the tools used (e.g., Global Forest Watch Pro) and to provide educational explanations on data interpretation.
• Key documents and frequency: proposal to indicate the validity period of documents (annual, triennial, decennial) and to provide typical examples to facilitate verification.
• Coordination with other platforms: suggestion to coordinate the TTP with existing initiatives (e.g., Open Timber Portal) in order to avoid duplication and make use of already available documents.
• Certification: clarification of FSC/PEFC certification coverage and distinction of versions adapted to the EUTR; questioning of the positioning of the “Certification” section and its role as a risk mitigation tool, without creating confusion with automatic compliance.
• EPRD analyses of certification schemes: proposal to centralize existing gap analyses and, ideally, to support an independent study on certification and EPRD.
• Highlighting risk differences according to forest type: necessary distinction between natural forest, plantation, and concession in risk analysis.
• Definition of minimum documentation: clarification expected on the documents to be provided according to the type of supply.
• Supply chains: requests for Excel templates, typical examples by country and source, step-by-step guides, and clarification of the minimum documents required according to forest type, while ensuring full traceability from the plot to the finished product.
Timeline and Outlook
The project foresees:
A presentation of the updated portal will be done at the next Carrefour International du Bois in Nantes.
The chosen approach aims to develop a pragmatic tool capable of genuinely supporting companies in their due diligence process, without replacing their legal responsibility.
The success of the project will depend on maintaining a balance between comprehensive information and operational accessibility for end users.
For any questions or comments, please contact Alessandra Negri (alessandra.negri@uiccb.fr
An initiative supported by the TTT project
The project is part of the Tropical Timber Trade Facility program, funded by German development cooperation, within which ATIBT plays a technical role. The TTP is a central tool of this initiative, designed to provide reliable and up-to-date information on the regulatory frameworks of timber-producing countries.
