§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting on tropical timber held in Geneva from 13 September. [40286]
§ Dr. Liam FoxThe International Tropical Timber Organisation met in Geneva on 13 September. It was decided that the new international tropical timber agreement, which has now been ratified or provisionally applied by 38 countries including the United Kingdom, should enter into force on 1 January 1997. The new agreement provides an important basis for continued efforts by the international community to improve the management of tropical forests and promote trade in sustainably produced tropical timber.