EU Wildlife Protection Legal Instruments (Mapping the EU Legislation)
EU Timber Regulation and the EU Deforestation Regulation
Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) and Bilateral Cooperation
The EU has also intensified its collaboration with other consumer and processing countries to address illegal logging. For example, with China, the EU established a Bilateral Coordination Mechanism on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) in 2009. Through this, the EU and China work together to stop illegal logging and the associated trade in illegal timber globally. Meetings are held each year to share information on policy, discuss areas of mutual interest, and agree on annual work plans.
Voluntary partnership agreements (VPAs) between the EU and partner countries aim to ensure that only legally harvested timber is imported into the EU. The bilateral agreements include commitments and actions from both parties to halt trade in illegal timber.
A licence scheme certifies the legality of timber exported to the EU. To issue a licence, the partner country must implement a timber legality assurance system. When fully operational, such a system is both robust and credible, as it includes effective supply chain controls, mechanisms for verifying compliance and is subject to independent audits. The agreements also aim to promote better enforcement of forest law and an inclusive approach involving civil society and the private sector.
Voluntary partnership agreements have so far been signed with Ghana, the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Indonesia, the Central African Republic, Liberia and Vietnam. The EU has concluded negotiations with Honduras and Guyana. Negotiations are ongoing with the Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand.
Indonesia was the first country in the world that started issuing licences, on 15 November 2016. The licences are issued by Licensing Authorities in Indonesia, which are registered independent organisations.