George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has hailed a European Parliament vote to ban the trade of illegally logged timbers as a victory for developing nations and the environment.

George Lyon MEPUntil now, a loophole in European law has allowed the import of illegally felled timbers without fear of prosecution. The European Parliament overwhelmingly voted for regulations that will introduce severe penalties for any imports of illegal timber from 2012.

Commenting after the vote, Mr Lyon said:

"Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned by the impact that the felling of huge swathes of rainforests has on the environment. These regulations ensure that people can have complete confidence that goods they buy are produced from sustainable sources.

"The acceleration of the illegal timber trade has been a huge drain on the budding economies of developing nations.

"It is estimated that these countries lose up to £10 billion each year from the European market turning a blind eye as illegal timber is brought in through the front door without fear of punishment.

"This is revenue that developing nations cannot afford to lose.

"This is welcome, if long overdue, action and sends a clear message to those who have exploited the market for personal gain."