EUTR enforcers claim growing competence

Latest evidence shows EUTR Competent Authorities increasingly strengthening enforcement capacity EU-wide, creating a more effective barrier to illegal wood and helping prepare the ground for successful impact of FLEGT-licensed timber. Mike Jeffree reports

Certification and FLEGT – complementary potential

FSC Chief Advocacy Officer John Hontelez and PEFC Chief Executive Ben Gunneberg say certification schemes and the FLEGT initiative share goals and can be mutually beneficial

Communication is key, say ETTF members

ETTF member Federations view FLEGT licensed timber as a potentially major business and reputational benefit for the trade, but say communication will be vital for ‘smooth and credible market uptake'

Broad EU backing for legality assurance breakthrough

The ETTF Newsletter asked EU importers, end users, specifiers and retailers for views on the arrival of FLEGT licensing. Some questions and qualifications remain, but there’s widespread support for a legality assurance achievement that can be developed and built on

VPA global horizons grow

FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements offer due diligence-free access to the EU market to timber from supplier countries which introduce comprehensive legality assurance systems and forest governance reforms. The EU’s VPA partners now span the globe

Licensing a huge milestone, says Vella

In this exclusive interview with the ETTF Newsletter, EC Environmental Commissioner Karmenu Vella describes the EU FLEGT Action Plan as making a major contribution to improving forest governance and combatting illegal wood worldwide, not least through the support of the EU timber trade. Indonesia's issue of the first ever FLEGT licences, he says, will be a further key moment in this effort.

Community spirit

Widespread engagement is vital for the credibility of FLEGT licensing, says Indonesian EIA consultant Mardi Minangsari