Brussels - European Union importers should be forced to make sure that they are not bringing illegally-logged timber into the bloc, the EU's executive said in a law proposed Friday.

"Developed and developing nations must unite to protect the world's remaining forests. We must also send a message to timber suppliers that illegal timber or timber products will not be tolerated on the EU market," EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.

EU officials say that close on 20 per cent of the timber imported into the EU comes from illegal sources, with a serious impact on world ecosystems and climate.

To combat the problem, the European Commission has therefore proposed laws obliging timber importers to seek "sufficient guarantees" that their products were harvested in line with the laws defined in the country where the products originated.

"The proposal will increase incentives for legal and sustainable management and use of forests, especially in developing countries," a commission statement said.

The proposal would have to be approved by EU member states.

At the same time, the commission called for the creation of a global system to reward developing countries which try to stop deforestation, together with an EU fund to support it.

Commission experts say that deforestation is responsible for almost 20 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, since forests absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere.

Environmental group Greenpeace reacted angrily to the commission proposals, saying that they fell short of the level of action needed. (dpa)