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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 -
The VPA voyage is validated
The launch of Indonesian FLEGT licensing may not be a ‘magic bullet’ against illegal timber, but deserves recognition as a key step in the right direction, say participants in the initiative. Mike Jeffree reports -
President hails ‘advert for wood’
FLEGT-licensed timber has the potential to improve the timber trade’s image and reinforce efforts to boost wood consumption, according to ETTF President Andreas von Möller. -
Indonesia gears up to deliver on FLEGT licensing promise
Indonesia issues a V-Legal legality assurance export licence document every minute, according to a live tally on the website of its SILK timber legality information system – www.silk.dephut.go.id -
ETTF welcomes due-diligence exempt licensing
The ETTF has enthusiastically greeted the news that FLEGT-licensed timber and wood products are set to become available from Indonesia. Secretary General André de Boer sees FLEGT licensing delivering commercial and logistical benefits to the timber sector, as well as a tool for tackling illegal wood. And he urges the wider trade to get behind it. -
Indonesia and EU announce FLEGT licensing launch
Indonesia and the European Union has agreed that from 15 November Indonesia can start FLEGT licensing of verified legal timber products it exports to the EU. -
EU opens doors to Indonesia's licensing scheme for exports of verified legal timber
The European Commission has amended the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulation (FLEGT) to recognise Indonesia’s licensing scheme for exports of verified legal timber to the EU.