Consultation workshop on Timber legality definition and Timber Legality Assurance System within the framework of VPA/FLEGT with EU in Quy Nhon Vietnam | 12/09/2012
On 10 August 2012, the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Ha Cong Tuan chaired a consultation workshop in Quy Nhon on Timber legality definition and Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) within the framework of Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) negotiation with EU. This is a consultation workshop with plantation and timber processing enterprises following the VPA/FLEGT negotiation between Viet Nam and EU in order to introduce, discuss and consult on the Agreement. The workshop was funded by the WWF and GIZ and co-organized by Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and the Forest Sector Support Partnership (FSSP). Present at the workshop were 100 delegates representing the timber processing industry and timber association in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong provinces, etc,. , provincial State forest administration agencies, representatives from MARD, VNFOREST, FSSP Coordination Office, and some international organisations such as GIZ, WWF and EFI.
The participants agreed that Viet Nam timber industry is less and less dependent on raw material imports. In the context of market changes as the U.S. Lacey Act, the EU Timber Regulation 995/2010 towards the requirements of declaration and acountability on the legal origin of timber while exporting furniture to these markets, enterprises need to be fully aware to adapt to the market changes. The enterprises have expressed their support for the Government of Viet Nam to negotiate VPA / FLEGT with the EU and with the schedule and content of the negotiations.
“The VPA brings in many advantages for Vietnamese companies such as time and money saving, prestige on the market, better market prices. It is an inevitable trend, the sooner does the country follow this trend, the better benefits does it get. However, it is certain that it faces challenges in early stages. When the Regulation 995/2010 takes effect upon 3rd March, 2013, and even when Viet Nam and the EU has signed the VPA/FLEGT, enterprises have rights to decide whether or not to apply for FLEGT license. In case enterprises are granted with FLEGT license, they are exempt from their accountability for each shipment.” said Vice Minister Ha Cong Tuan.
In order to implement well the roadmap and content of the negotiations, the Vice Minister has directed the Standing Office for FLEGT and LACEY and relevant agencies to enhance the support to accelerate the consultation process, helping the negotiations to be conducted in a transparent manner. Forest Protection Department should early advise MARD to complete appropriate management system, provisions of law and FLEGT into effect in March 2013. Timber enterprises should strengthen cooperation and promptly report the difficulties to Standing Office for FLEGT & LACEY so that the negotiations can be most efficient.
The workshop participants were also invited to visit a typical model of Chain of Custody (CoC) control in Tien Dat Furniture Company on 11 Aug. This company uses FSC-certified imported wood to produce their products for export, mostly to EU. This strict CoC control model is a good example to develop TLAS for Viet Nam.