It was decided at the meeting to accept the proposal of the Agriculture and Industry and Trade Ministries to establish a state record system for produced and transported timber. The planned system will include an automated electronic register.
To introduce this system, a single certification form should be drawn up and approved for all regions to certify that the timber was produced or purchased legitimately.
The Ministries were instructed to submit, in December 2008, proposals to amend the Forestry Code or other legal acts as required for the introduction of the system.
And, the Ministries must draw up action plans to introduce the system, before February 1, 2009.
"This issue is extremely important. It is high time we set things in order," said Mr Zubkov, who heads the Council.