The VPA

The EU, to its credit, has accepted that, whilst sustainable timber is the ultimate goal, in the meantime, legal timber is acceptable.  This is being pragmatic because if sustainable timber is demanded, then we have to wait a long time before it may be obtained.  And in the meantime business as usual will continue.

It is emphasised that the VPA, once concluded, will be legally binding and only timber which has been verified as legal, through a Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS), may enter the EU market.  Current work is focused on developing the TLAS which is the main component of the VPA.  The TLAS has three main elements

• Definition of Legal Timber
• Principles and Criteria of Legal Timber
• Details of Control Procedures for TLAS

It has been agreed that six principles with appropriate number of criteria will define legal timber.  Every criteria, under each of the six principles, will then be developed in a tabulated form as control procedures to facilitate licensing by the designated authority. It will also be subjected to periodic independent monitoring.