Laos to gain EU-certified access to overseas wood product markets
Laos to gain EU-certified access to overseas wood product markets
Laos will enter into a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) with the European Union (EU) next year after almost seven years of preparations.
When Laos signs on to the agreement, it will provide opportunities for Lao wood processing businesses to access markets in the EU, Japan, America and Australia. It will also promote investment in the wood processing industry for domestic supply and export.
The purpose of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement is to ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU are derived from legal sources.
The agreement will also support Laos in the management and restriction of deforestation.
But forestry officials stressed that wood processing businesses must improve their operations in order to benefit from the agreement.
Director General of the Forest Inspection Department, Mr Khamphout Phandanouvong, highlighted this point on Wednesday at the annual FLEGT VPA consultation meeting in Attapeu province.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy provincial Governor Mr Souksamay Chanthamath and attended by government officials and representatives of international organisations and wood processing businesses.
Laos is now well prepared to sign the VPA with the EU after years of hard work on the part of the Laos-EU FLEGT VPA team since 2010, Mr Khamphout said.
The teams held many meetings with various government bodies and international organisations concerning the correct definitions of the sources of wood.
�Through discussions, we focused on the sources of wood, such as production forest, infrastructure construction, impounded wood, village forests, plantation areas, and imported wood,� he said.
The team also examined the wood certification system of the FLEGT VPA operation plan, which is to be implemented in the three priority provinces of Xayaboury, Khammuan and Attapeu.
The agreement also helps member countries to stop the export of illegal timber by revising regulations and better managing forests.
In addition, it supports and attracts investment in the timber industry from both domestic and foreign sources. It also enhances Lao labour development, product standards and designs, and markets for timber.
The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade aims to reduce illegal logging and strengthen sustainable forestry. It is designed to prevent European Union-bound imports of illegal timber and wood-based products.
The Voluntary Partnership Agreement established between the European Union and timber-producing countries is a central component of the scheme.
