On 15 September 2020, the National FLEGT Committee convened a meeting at Pollution Control Department to discuss the Fifth Joint Expert Meeting (JEM 5) results and points for negotiation for the upcoming Third Negotiation Meeting (NEG 3) and VPA roadmap. Mr. Pongboon Pongthong, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, presided over the meeting and joined by 27 attendees from the appointed government departments.

                The committee deliberated on the JEM 5 discussion result in which Thai and EU were satisfied with the current Thai Timber Legality Definition (LD) Annex draft, Condition for Release for Free Circulation in the European Union of Thai FLEGT-Licensed Timber Products Annex draft, and Terms of Reference for the Independent Audit Annex draft and were pleased with the progress on Thai Timber Legality Assurance System Annex draft, and Thai Supply Chain Controls (SCC) Annex draft.

The session on JEM 5 result was followed by deliberation on the points for negotiation and VPA roadmap. Decisions on the negotiation points in NEG 3 will set the framework for Thai and EU cooperation until NEG 4. The committee commits to proceed with the process and achieve the completed FLEGT-VPA agreement draft.