Chetumal, Q.R. — The Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection (Profepa) has shut down a Chetumal lumberyard. Federal officials say the yard was closed after inspectors found numerous inconsistencies.
As part of the inspection and surveillance actions to verify compliance with forestry legislation, Profepa with the support of the Secretariat of the Navy, carried out an inspection at the Madereria MG lumberyard in Chetumal.
In a statement, Profepa said their visit was to review its operating conditions and the documentation related to the storage and transformation of raw materials and timber forest products.
During the visit, Profepa detected documentary and administrative inconsistencies that prevented full verification of the registration and control of the raw materials and forest products handled at the establishment.
“Among these, the company’s registration in the National Forestry Registry was not provided, nor were the logs of entries and exits of timber products presented. Furthermore, the operating permit submitted to the authority indicated an address different from that of the inspected establishment,” they reported.
Given the conditions found, Profepa imposed the total temporary closure of the establishment while its legal situation is evaluated within the corresponding administrative procedure.
Profepa will follow up on the administrative procedure and analyze the elements gathered during the visit in order to determine the corresponding measures and sanctions.
The General Law for Sustainable Forest Development establishes that those who carry out activities related to the harvesting, transport, storage, marketing, or processing of raw materials and forest products must prove their legal origin.
It also establishes requirements for the operation of centers not integrated into a primary processing facility.
Reviewing records, authorizations, logs, and other documents allows verification that establishments comply with their obligations and contributes to monitoring the traceability of raw materials and forest products, as well as the accreditation of their legal origin.
The administrative procedure will continue until the legal status of the establishment is determined and, where applicable, the corresponding consequences in accordance with forestry legislation.
