Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will be able to boost its woodexports when the Vietnam-European Union Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest LawEnforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) takes effect, said PermanentDeputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan.
Talking with the press in Hanoi on January 7 about theupcoming approval of the VPA/FLEGT, Tuan said the agreement will helpstrengthen forest governance, deal with illegal logging, and promote trade in Vietnamesewood and wooden furniture.
Vietnam has so far shipped wooden furniture to 28 EUcountries, mostly in outdoor decor. The EU is the fourth largest importer ofVietnamese wood products, accounting for 13-17 percent of total exports, hesaid.
According to him, transparency in the origin of importedwood and control of the supply chain have been among Vietnam’s key issuesduring the six years of VPA/FLEGT negotiations.
On the basis of agreements with the EU and partners on woodorigin control, Vietnam has recently issued the Law on Forestry, launched theVietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS) for the first time, and hikedup the punishments for violations.
Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala saidall wood and wooden furniture exported from Vietnam to the EU need FLEGT licences.
The EU has been signing the agreement with 16 countries. TheVPA/FLEGT is the second signed by the EU in Asia, following its deal withIndonesia, she said.
She added that the EU wants to eliminate illegal woodexploitation to meet the increasing demands of European consumers.
Vietnam should make every effort to ensure itsaccountability, she said, adding that the EU will pay special attention to thecountry’s preparations for the implementation of the agreement.
Tuan said Vietnam has approved a plan to realise theagreement, including building legal documents and strengthening the supervisoryrole of non-governmental organisations, professional organisations, and concernedparties during the process.
From January 7-9, Hautala is scheduled to pay working tripsto the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai and Ho Chi Minh City to preparefor submitting the agreement to the EP for approval.
After six years of negotiations, the VPA/FLEGT was signed byboth sides on October 19, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.
The deal needs to be adopted by the EP before beingsubmitted to the European Council for ratification. –VNA
Talking with the press in Hanoi on January 7 about theupcoming approval of the VPA/FLEGT, Tuan said the agreement will helpstrengthen forest governance, deal with illegal logging, and promote trade in Vietnamesewood and wooden furniture.
Vietnam has so far shipped wooden furniture to 28 EUcountries, mostly in outdoor decor. The EU is the fourth largest importer ofVietnamese wood products, accounting for 13-17 percent of total exports, hesaid.
According to him, transparency in the origin of importedwood and control of the supply chain have been among Vietnam’s key issuesduring the six years of VPA/FLEGT negotiations.
On the basis of agreements with the EU and partners on woodorigin control, Vietnam has recently issued the Law on Forestry, launched theVietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS) for the first time, and hikedup the punishments for violations.
Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala saidall wood and wooden furniture exported from Vietnam to the EU need FLEGT licences.
The EU has been signing the agreement with 16 countries. TheVPA/FLEGT is the second signed by the EU in Asia, following its deal withIndonesia, she said.
She added that the EU wants to eliminate illegal woodexploitation to meet the increasing demands of European consumers.
Vietnam should make every effort to ensure itsaccountability, she said, adding that the EU will pay special attention to thecountry’s preparations for the implementation of the agreement.
Tuan said Vietnam has approved a plan to realise theagreement, including building legal documents and strengthening the supervisoryrole of non-governmental organisations, professional organisations, and concernedparties during the process.
From January 7-9, Hautala is scheduled to pay working tripsto the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai and Ho Chi Minh City to preparefor submitting the agreement to the EP for approval.
After six years of negotiations, the VPA/FLEGT was signed byboth sides on October 19, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.
The deal needs to be adopted by the EP before beingsubmitted to the European Council for ratification. –VNA
VNA
