Russian government introduced a de facto ban on the export of unprocessed softwood logs from January 1, 2022

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 396 dated March 18, 2021, introduced a de facto ban on the export of unprocessed softwood logs from January 1, 2022, as well as certain additional procedural restrictions related thereto from April 19, 2021.

Greenpeace Forest Forum reports that the decree cancels all previous government instruments on export tariff quotas for unprocessed timber of Scots pine, European spruce, Yezo spruce, Khingan fir, and Dahurian larch (from the date of its entry into force); this means that there will be no quotas for 2022, and all logs will be subject to a single export duty, which is actually prohibitive. Besides that, it specifies a deadline for submitting documents required for issuing a license within the quota: April 19, 2021.