This was their reaction to yesterday's decision of the Seim,as which decided not to change the laws on selling state timber and not to prioritize certain processors. The proposal to give priority to Lithuanian processors to buy state timber was not supported by MPs, as a result of which after yesterday's Seimas sitting the current order of timber trade remains unchanged: there is no priority given to Lithuanian processors and biofuel producers.
However, timber trade rules from now on can be set by the environment minister. The president and part of the members of the Seimas believe that the proposed changes would protect large-scale businesses and discriminate against other participants of the market.
Gintautas Pangonis, president of the Lithuanian Forest Cluster, says that some MPs and the president were probably misled because the proposed amendments are also valid in other countries. Meanwhile, timber sellers are happy about sticking to the old law regarding timber trade. "This is the best that could have happened. Everybody will have equal opportunities, both exporters and processors. In my view, only one more thing calls for our attention – the rules of auctions," said Dalia Bauziene, chairperson of the Timber Trade Association, said about the Seimas' decision. According to her, timber must be sold at market prices.
