Malaysia and the European Union will next month begin negotiations on a pact to prevent illegal timber from being exported to European nations.

"This negotiation may take about a year but once an agreement is reached, Malaysia's timber will not be having problems entering the EU market in the future," Plantations and Commodities Minister Peter Chin said.

Chin told the state Bernama news agency that Malaysia will host the first round of negotiations on the implementation of the forest law enforcement, governance and trade agreement with the European Union in November.

The timber certification system is aimed at curbing illegal logging and timber sales and to help Malaysia preserve its endangered natural forests.

RM7 billion a year industry

Malaysia's exports of timber products to the EU are worth RM7 billion annually and its commitment to consider the pact is aimed at ensuring its exports to EU are not banned, Chin said.

Malaysia has come under repeated criticism by environmental groups for acting as a base in which illegal timber from Indonesia and other neighbouring countries are 'laundered' and exported.

"Through the negotiation and if we sign it, all the 25 EU countries will be accepting our timber," he added.

Timber is among Malaysia's main export products. The EU is Malaysia's third largest export market after the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc and the United States.