The results have shown that as much as 50% of the samples analysed for the timber industry and non-timber industry clients since January 2015 were not of the reported species.
The figures follow the National Measurement Office’s (NMO) Chinese plywood enforcement project revealed that, of 16 companies investigated, 14 submitted "insufficient" due diligence systems.
"People have suddenly woken up to the fact that they are at risk," says Nick Clifford, timber species expert at BM TRADA. "It has pushed EE Timber Regulation right up the list of priorities.
"What we are finding is that around half of the samples we’ve tested are not what they’re purported to be. They might not be an endangered species, but in many cases, we’ve found a lower value species used in favour of another."
Mr Clifford said that the biggest challenges were around the use of eucalyptus and poplar.
"One of the big plywood suppliers keeps finding the product is not what it is supposed to be. It is common practice to use poplar as an internal veneer and then another decorative veneer – from a different species ¬- on the outside to improve the aesthetics. While this would not necessarily be taken as evidence of underhand activity, suppliers have a responsibility under EUTR to provide the correct claims."
