Australia's reformed illegal logging laws are now in effect.

Amendments to the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 (Act) are in effect as of 3 March 2025. Also in effect are the Illegal Logging Prohibition Rules 2024 (Rules), which replace the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012.

You can download a flowchart below which demonstrates the differences between the due diligence process prior to 3 March 2025 and the new arrangements now in effect.

Download

Old vs. new flowchart PDF (149 KB)

Accessible versions of these documents are pending, in the interim please email illegallogging@aff.gov.au for assistance.

What does this mean for importers and processors?

The Rules introduce changes to due diligence requirements. It is up to you to understand your responsibilities as an importer or processor of regulated timber, timber products and/or raw logs.

The fundamental steps of your due diligence requirements remain unchanged. This includes a written due diligence system, information gathering, risk assessment, risk mitigation and record keeping. The requirement to respond to a request for information from the department also remains the same. However, there are key changes to some steps:

• The three previous risk assessment methods (Country Specific Guidelines (CSG) or State Specific Guidelines, Timber Legality Frameworks and Regulated Risk Factors) have been replaced with two distinct risk assessment pathways for:
• Certified timber and timber products/raw logs
• Non-certified timber and timber products/raw logs
• There is a new repeat due diligence exception. This allows you to rely on a previous risk assessment and risk mitigation measures if you import or process the same timber, timber products, or raw logs from the same supplier within a 12 month period. You can use this exception regardless of the certification status of your timber or timber products.
• There is an exemption for processors who are also the person/entity who harvested the raw log.

The new laws also include a future requirement to provide notice to the department before importing or processing regulated timber, timber products or raw logs. This requirement has not come into effect, as it relies on a new IT system that is still being developed. We will update you as this progresses.

The Act introduces new powers for the department to undertake certain activities. More information on those powers is available in E-update 49.

Guidance material now available

We have developed guidance material for importers and processors to assist you in meeting your due diligence requirements. We encourage you to provide feedback on its practical application in your business and compliance activities, to ensure our guidance is fit-for-purpose while remaining aligned with the legislation.

We have also developed a FAQ page which is a compilation of answers to questions we received from stakeholders throughout the consultation process and beyond. We will continue to update this page based on industry and stakeholder feedback.

We thank the regulated community for their feedback on the development of guidance material throughout the reform process. If you have any questions or seek further information on the legislative reforms, you can email us at illegallogging@aff.gov.au. For compliance matters, email compliance at illegallogging.complianceassessment@aff.gov.au.

Audits and compliance under new arrangements

We appreciate that these changed legal requirements involve changes to your internal processes and we remain committed to supporting compliance within the regulated community.

As such, for the first six months of the new Rules (from 3 March 2025 – early September 2025), we will conduct audits as usual, but will focus on education and guidance for non-compliance matters relating to the application of new/changed due diligence arrangements.

We may still take further action for non-compliance matters relating to due diligence requirements that remain unchanged.

Important to note

With the exception of CSGs and SSGs, all material published by the department prior to 3 March 2025 relating to the Illegal Logging Prohibition Regulation 2012 is no longer relevant and should not be solely relied on by businesses for their due diligence (processes or obligations).

Download

Old and new arrangements flowchart