Vietnam and the European Union (EU) have basically concluded the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) after nearly six years of negotiations.
Vietnam and the EU began negotiations on the VPA/FLEGT in October 2010. The country conducted 10 high-level and 18 technical negotiating sessions before reaching a conclusion.
The VPA means to ensure the legal export of all timber products and help the Vietnamese wood sector obtain sustainable development and expand foreign markets, especially the EU.
It also aims to prevent illegal logging and strengthen forest governance and boost trade in legally produced timber.
According to the agreement, Vietnam will build and operate a timber legality assurance system (VNTLAS) in line with the country’s situation and the EU's requirements on tracing the origin of legal timber in the supply chain.
Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said the full operation of the VNTLAS will signficantly contribute to ensuring the origin of Vietnamese legal timber export to the EU and other markets.
The minister stressed that the FLEGT license will allow Vietnamese businesses to export wood products to the EU without taking accountability on the origin of legal timber products.
Commissioner Karmenu Vella said the main commitments are establishing a strong and reliable system which is involved by parties concerned and effective mechanisms to detect any violations and ensure law enforcement.
The EU will strictly monitor Vietnam’s realisation of the VPA and vowed to support the country’s efforts in this field, he confirmed.
In 2015, export turnover of Vietnam's wood products was more than 7.1 billion USD, contributing significantly to the agricultural sector’s growth.
The export value of wood sector reached 560 million USD in October, bringing its export value in the first 10 months of 2016 to 5.54 billion USD.
Timber products of Vietnam have exported to more than 90 countries around the world.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong speaks at the press conference.
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The VPA means to ensure the legal export of all timber products and help the Vietnamese wood sector obtain sustainable development and expand foreign markets, especially the EU.
It also aims to prevent illegal logging and strengthen forest governance and boost trade in legally produced timber.
According to the agreement, Vietnam will build and operate a timber legality assurance system (VNTLAS) in line with the country’s situation and the EU's requirements on tracing the origin of legal timber in the supply chain.
Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said the full operation of the VNTLAS will signficantly contribute to ensuring the origin of Vietnamese legal timber export to the EU and other markets.
The minister stressed that the FLEGT license will allow Vietnamese businesses to export wood products to the EU without taking accountability on the origin of legal timber products.
Commissioner Karmenu Vella said the main commitments are establishing a strong and reliable system which is involved by parties concerned and effective mechanisms to detect any violations and ensure law enforcement.
The EU will strictly monitor Vietnam’s realisation of the VPA and vowed to support the country’s efforts in this field, he confirmed.
In 2015, export turnover of Vietnam's wood products was more than 7.1 billion USD, contributing significantly to the agricultural sector’s growth.
The export value of wood sector reached 560 million USD in October, bringing its export value in the first 10 months of 2016 to 5.54 billion USD.
Timber products of Vietnam have exported to more than 90 countries around the world.
