Guidance

Timber Procurement Advice Note (TPAN): comply with TPP

How to comply with Timber Procurement Policy (TPP).

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 1 June 2013
• Last updated: 26 November 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 26 November 2025

     Updated the Timber procurement advice note (TPAN) with the latest version (7th edition). The content has been restructured to improve readability and accessibility. Annex E has been updated with the 'Checklist for checking Category A evidence'. Grown in Britain has been added to the list of forest certification schemes for Category A evidence.

  2. 27 February 2025

     Defra is currently reviewing the UK government’s Timber Procurement Policy. Updates to the policy are expected to be published in summer 2025.

  3. 1 June 2013

     First published.

Documents

Timber procurement advice note (TPAN) (7th edition)

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Details

Informs central government departments in England, the wider public sector and also suppliers about the requirements of the UK government’s Timber Procurement Policy (TPP).

Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have issued their own policies and guidance.

This note sets out:

• who is mandated to comply with the TPP and which products it applies to
• what the TPP means for each stage of the public procurement process when purchasing timber and wood-derived products
• explains the types of evidence which demonstrate compliance with the UK government Timber Procurement Policy, Definition of Legal and Sustainable for Timber Procurement, 6th edition
• provides model text which can be used in technical specifications, invitations to tender (‘ITTs’) and contract clauses

For more advice on complying with the TPP, see the collection of documents which include TPP policy documents, category A guidance and checklist, and category B guidance.