HUŞ KAPLAMARotary-cut birch veneer from Russia

Compliance: sanctions, EUDR and where we ship

Importing Russian-origin birch veneer into Turkey is legal. Turkey has not aligned with EU sanctions, and there is no anti-dumping or safeguard measure on HS 4408 against Russia. We do not, however, ship to the European Union, the United Kingdom or Japan — import of Russian-origin wood into those jurisdictions is prohibited (EU Regulation 833/2014, Article 3i, Annex XXI, in force since 10 July 2022). We take no part in origin-changing schemes.

Why this page exists

In 2026 the first question a buyer in this trade asks is not about price. It is whether buying this material will cause them a problem. European regulators are auditing Turkish plants, Estonian customs opened over a hundred origin investigations, and the EU prosecutor is running criminal proceedings.

We prefer to answer that plainly — because a supplier who offers you a scheme is a liability, not an advantage.

Where we ship

Turkey, China, India, Egypt, the UAE, Iran, Iraq, the EAEU and Central Asia, North Africa, Serbia.

The European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan.

The EU prohibition has been in force since 10 July 2022: Article 3i of Regulation 833/2014, with Annex XXI covering the whole of chapter 44. In the United Kingdom the prohibition carries a penalty of up to ten years’ imprisonment. Japan halted imports of certain wood products on 19 April 2022.

For producers selling from Turkey into the EU

If you make plywood for the European market, this section matters regardless of who supplies you.

Anti-dumping. EU Regulation 2024/1287, in force since 15 May 2024, extends a 15.8% duty to birch plywood consigned from Turkey and Kazakhstan (CN 4412 33 10) regardless of declared origin. Every Turkish company that applied for an exemption was refused.

EUDR. From 30 December 2026 it applies to large and medium operators. Its logic differs from sanctions: it attaches not to the origin of the product but to the geolocation of the forest plot where the tree was felled. Processing in a third country does not reset that. Russia was classified as one of four high-risk countries under Implementing Regulation 2025/1093.

Being straight about certification

FSC has classified Russian and Belarusian timber as conflict timber since 8 April 2022 and will not accept it even as FSC Controlled Wood. PEFC took the same decision. So we have no FSC certificate and we do not say otherwise.

The Russian voluntary scheme “Forest Etalon” is not equivalent to FSC or PEFC and carries no legal weight under the EUDR. For a buyer selling into the EU it is of no use; in Middle Eastern, North African and CIS markets it can serve to evidence legality of harvest.

What we offer instead is a complete, verifiable and internally consistent documentary package on the origin of the raw material.

Division of responsibility

The buyer is responsible for compliance with the law of the destination country. We observe EU, UK and Japanese restrictions, do not ship to those jurisdictions, and take no part in origin-changing schemes.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to buy Russian veneer in Turkey?

Yes. Turkey has not aligned with EU sanctions and there is nothing preventing the import of Russian-origin wood into Turkey. There is also no anti-dumping or safeguard measure against Russia on HS 4408.

Can I sell plywood made from this veneer into the EU?

In practice, no. Birch plywood consigned from Turkey attracts a 15.8% anti-dumping duty regardless of declared origin (EU Regulation 2024/1287), and no Turkish company has obtained an exemption. From 30 December 2026 the EUDR additionally requires the geolocation of the plot where the timber was harvested — processing in a third country does not change that.

So which markets can I use this veneer for?

The Turkish domestic market and non-EU export: Iraq, the Middle East, North Africa and the CIS. Those are already the leading destinations for Turkish furniture and forest-products exports — Iraq, Morocco, Iran and the United States among them.

Do you have FSC certification?

No, and we do not claim to. FSC has refused Russian-origin material since 8 April 2022 and PEFC took the same decision. What we provide instead is a complete and accurate documentary package on the origin of the raw material.

Do you issue a certificate of origin?

Yes — a general-form certificate issued by the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. EUR.1 and A.TR do not apply: there is no free trade agreement between the EAEU and Turkey.

Would you change the origin on the documents?

No. It is unlawful and it puts you at risk — the European Public Prosecutor's Office is running criminal cases on exactly this, and Estonian customs opened more than a hundred investigations in 2024. Correct paperwork is the cheap option over any real time horizon.

Tell us the format, thickness and monthly volume

We will work out the cubic metres per container, the freight to your port and the lead time. We answer during Turkish business hours, in Turkish, English and Russian.

Author: Andrey, Turkey representative, HUŞ KAPLAMA · Published: · Updated: