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Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos on Wednesday said that some 55,000 forestry inspections were conducted August-October, 2016 that led to the drawing up of 1,000 criminal files.
"This summer, we said we intended to take some measures to keep illegal logging in check, after having received several worrying signals over illegal logging. I asked the relevant ministers to put forth a set of measures that would contain such illegal forestry activities. (...) I asked the Interior Ministry and the National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF) to start off complex and coordinated inspections in the entire wood industry - from logging, up to and including trade - so as to check the legality of wood exploration and circulation. (...) Almost 55,000 inspections were conducted that led to 1,000 criminal filed being issued. More than 2,500 infractions were uncovered, most of which were violations of the Forestry Code, and about 60,000 fines were imposed.At the same time, some 50,000 cubic metres of wood were impounded," Ciolos said at the beginning of a Government meeting on Wednesday.
He asked for the inspections to be continued in the period immediately ahead, because coordination so far between MAI and the Forestry Guard seems to bear fruit.
On the other hand, Ciolos called on the Environmental Ministry to urgently come up with clarifications, including legislative ones, to secure the provision of enough fire wood to the people.
