KEY POINTS

Timber legality assurance systems

Countries entering into a VPA with the EU are required to set up and implement a timber legality assurance system (TLAS).
A TLAS verifies that timber and timber products have been legally produced.
Only verified shipments are exported to the EU, covered by a forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) licence.
The system must include compliance checks and procedures to ensure that timber of illegal or unknown origin does not enter the supply chain.
An independent evaluation will assess the implementation, effectiveness and credibility of the TLAS and the FLEGT licensing scheme.
The product scope of the FLEGT licensing scheme covers a core list of mandatory products, as listed under Annex II to the FLEGT regulation, as well as additional country-specific products to be listed in Annex III (in line with the product scope agreed in the relevant VPA).

Forest law enforcement, governance and trade

The agreements envisage setting up FLEGT licensing schemes, once both parties to the agreement conclude on the basis of a joint assessment of operational readiness whether the TLAS underpinning the licensing scheme adequately fulfils its functions.
They also set out the procedures and requirements to check and, in the case of exports to the EU, attest, by means of FLEGT licences, that timber products shipped to the EU have been legally produced. FLEGT licences were set up by Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 (see summary).
Once the FLEGT licensing scheme has entered into force for timber and timber products covered by the agreement, the EU will only accept timber shipments from the country concerned that are covered by valid FLEGT licences. Timber with a valid FLEGT licence will be considered legally harvested within the meaning of the EU timber regulation, Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, (see summary). Operators importing FLEGT licensed timber will thus not have to carry out due diligence under that regulation.

Licensing authority

The exporting country must appoint a licensing authority (LA).
The LA verifies that timber products have been legally produced and issues FLEGT licences for shipments of such products to the EU.
It will not issue FLEGT licences for:
- any shipment of timber products that has not been legally produced under its country’s laws as specified in the agreement; or
- in the case of imported timber, timber products that have not been harvested, produced or exported in accordance with the law of the country of harvest and the country of production.
The procedure for issuing FLEGT licences must be publicly accessible and records must be kept of all shipments covered by such licences.

Receiving and verifying FLEGT licences

The FLEGT competent authority of the EU Member State concerned must check that each shipment is covered by a valid FLEGT licence before releasing it for free circulation in the EU.
This release can be suspended and the shipment held if there are doubts regarding the validity of the licence.

Irregularities

Each party must inform the other if they suspect or have evidence of irregularities in the licensing scheme or any attempt to circumvent it, including:

trade being redirected from the exporting country concerned to the EU via a non-EU country with the intention of avoiding licensing;
FLEGT licences covering timber products which contain timber from non-EU countries that is suspected of being illegally produced;
fraud in obtaining or using FLEGT licences.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L, 2024/1414, 27.5.2024).

Council Decision (EU) 2024/1412 of 19 February 2024 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L, 2024/1412, 27.5.2024).

Council Decision (EU) 2024/1413 of 29 April 2024 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and timber products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L, 2024/1413, 27.5.2024).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 121, 5.5.2023, pp. 3–152).

Council Decision (EU) 2022/1974 of 13 October 2022 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 271, 19.10.2022, pp. 1–2).

Council Decision (EU) 2023/904 of 7 March 2023 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 121, 5.5.2023, pp. 1–2).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Honduras on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 217, 18.6.2021, pp. 3–136).

Council Decision (EU) 2020/2185 of 18 December 2020 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Honduras on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, pp. 63–64).

Council Decision (EU) 2021/964 of 26 May 2021 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Honduras on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 217, 18.6.2021, pp. 1–2).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (OJ L 147, 5.6.2019, pp. 3–209).

Council Decision (EU) 2018/1528 of 11 October 2018 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (OJ L 257, 15.10.2018, pp. 1–2).

Council Decision (EU) 2019/854 of 15 April 2019 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (OJ L 147, 5.6.2019, pp. 1–2).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Indonesia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products into the European Union (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, pp. 252–330).

Amendments to the agreement have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Council Decision 2013/486/EU of 23 September 2013 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Indonesia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 265, 8.10.2013, pp. 1–2).

Council Decision 2014/284/EU of 14 April 2014 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Indonesia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, pp. 250–251).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 191, 19.7.2012, pp. 3–90).

Council Decision 2011/475/EU of 22 July 2011 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 196, 28.7.2011, p. 2).

Council Decision 2012/373/EU of 14 May 2012 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Liberia on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union (OJ L 191, 19.7.2012, p. 1).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Central African Republic on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 191, 19.7.2012, pp. 103–256).

Council Decision 2011/790/EU of 14 November 2011 on the signing of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Central African Republic on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 320, 3.12.2011, p. 2).

Council Decision 2012/374/EU of 14 May 2012 on the conclusion of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Central African Republic on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 191, 19.7.2012, p. 102).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 92, 6.4.2011, pp. 4–125).

Council Decision 2011/200/EU of 27 September 2010 on the signing of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 92, 6.4.2011, pp. 1–2).

Council Decision 2011/201/EU of 28 February 2011 on the conclusion of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Cameroon on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 92, 6.4.2011, p. 3).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Congo on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 92, 6.4.2011, pp. 127–238).

Council Decision 2010/615/EU of 17 May 2010 on the signing of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Congo on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 271, 15.10.2010, pp. 1–2).

Council Decision 2011/202/EU of 28 February 2011 on the conclusion of a Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of the Congo on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber and derived products to the European Union (FLEGT) (OJ L 92, 6.4.2011, p. 126).

Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Ghana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products into the Community (OJ L 70, 19.3.2010, pp. 3–75).

Council Decision 2010/151/EC of 16 November 2009 on the signing and conclusion of a voluntary partnership agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Ghana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products into the Community (OJ L 70, 19.3.2010, pp. 1–2).

Country	Date of entry into force of agreement	Date of ratification of agreement	Date of signature of agreement	Start of FLEGT licensing
Côte d’Ivoire		April 2024	19 February 2024
Guyana		March 2023	15 December 2022
Honduras	1 September 2022	June 2021	23 February 2021
Vietnam	1 June 2019	May 2019	19 October 2018
Indonesia	1 May 2014	April 2014	30 September 2013	15 November 2016
Liberia	1 December 2013	December 2013	11 July 2011
Congo	1 March 2013	February 2013	17 May 2010
Cameroon	1 December 2011	2 March 2011 – EU 9 August 2011 – Cameroon	6 October 2010
Central African Republic	1 July 2012	1 July 2012	28 November 2011
Ghana	1 December 2009		19 November 2009
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Still under negotiation
Gabon	Still under negotiation

Voluntary partnership agreements on forest law enforcement, governance and trade

SUMMARY OF:

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENTS AND THE DECISIONS?

KEY POINTS

Timber legality assurance systems

Forest law enforcement, governance and trade

Licensing authority

Receiving and verifying FLEGT licences

Irregularities

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

BACKGROUND

MAIN DOCUMENTS

SUMMARY OF:

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENTS AND THE DECISIONS?

KEY POINTS

Timber legality assurance systems

Forest law enforcement, governance and trade

Licensing authority

Receiving and verifying FLEGT licences

Irregularities

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

BACKGROUND

MAIN DOCUMENTS

RELATED DOCUMENTS