Timber labelling supported by vast majority of Australians

More than nine out of 10 Australians want improved Country of Origin labelling on timber products, according to a new national survey, conducted by Choice.

The Choice survey found nearly all of the 7,200 people surveyed said labelling information would sway their buying behaviour, reinforcing AFPA’s calls to introduce Country of Origin Labelling to ensure consumers can easily identify and purchase Australian-grown timber.

AFPA Chief Executive Officer Diana Hallam said: “We welcome and applaud the latest Choice findings on timber labelling, as this compelling evidence supports and endorses what we hear every day from the building and construction sector, as well as everyday Australians.

“Country of Origin labelling is an important reform that allows consumers to choose to buy Australian timber and better understand the potential environmental and sourcing implications of imported wood. With a growing amount of dubious, imported timber products flooding the Australian marketplace, including from China, it’s critical consumers can compare and consider the origins of timber products.”

As part of AFPA’s Federal election platform last year, AFPA called on the Federal Government to introduce Country of Origin Labelling to allow consumers to choose locally-grown timber.

“By providing easy-to-understand Country of Origin labelling, consumers can choose climate-friendly, sustainably produced and Australian-grown timber,” Ms Hallam said. “Importantly, a number of Australia’s softwood manufacturers are voluntarily labelling their products to show it is Australian, meets Australian Standards and has been manufactured in Australia.

“This is vital, as a 2025 report from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), showed while examples of Australian-grown timber were correctly labelled, 63 per cent of import samples carried private certifications.”

Around 50 per cent of Australia’s imported timber also failed traceability testing, according to the Source Certain report, produced for DAFF. Other statistics show Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) imports totalled 205,343 cubic metres for the year-ended October 2025, up 63% on the prior year.

Source: Australian Forest Products Association