Kicking off 2022, the FLEGT VPA Ad-Hoc Working Group approved another two drafts: Thai Timber Legality Assurance System Annex and Thai Supply Chain Controls Annex, for submitting to the EU FLEGT Asia Programme, European Forest Institute, for technical recommendations, before deliberation at the FLEGT VPA Sub-Committee Meeting and sending to the European Union preparing for the Negotiation this year.

Thai Timber Legality Assurance System (THA-TLAS) is the Annex that describes the process to acquire and issue the THA-TLAS and FLEGT license. Once implemented, all timber and timber products sold domestically and exported will require a license. The national licensing scheme will facilitate the Thai timber export by allowing the timber to enter the European single market without going through the due diligence step and increase confidence in the legality of Thai timber products of all trade partners in the international market. The system will check timber against two criteria: legality compliance, described in Annex 2 of the agreement and compliance of supply chain described in the Thai Supply Chain Controls Annex, which explains the method of data collection and data reconciliation of the Thai timber supply chain, ensuring that record is made in every point of the supply chain.

The Thai Timber Supply Chain Controls Annex consists of four guidelines that were developed by the working group to solve the supply chain gaps. There are guidelines for timber on private land, government-authorized land for agriculture (Sor Por Kor), reclaimed timber, and imported timber. These four supply chain points were identified as lacking the existing regulations imposing an adequate supply chain check and recording. At this meeting, the Ad-Hoc Working Group passed the guideline for Self-Declaration for timber on Sor Por Kor. The guideline will be submitted to the Royal Forest Department for the official announcement. Once announced, timber owners can refer to this guideline to declare the legality of timber on Sor Por Kor by themselves to facilitate the trade and transportation to the next supply chain point. The current Thai forest law does not regulate the harvesting and selling of planted trees on Sor Por Kor land. Thus the guideline will strengthen the confidence in the legality of timber from Sor Por Kor as well as traceability.

Much progress has been achieved, but the FLEGT VPA process still moves forward with the legal review. This year, the Legal Office of the Royal Forest Department will focus on the amendment of the Forest Act. Developing a guideline for primary mills will start this year, led by the Royal Forest Department in consultation with stakeholders. This guideline will instruct mills of the adequate steps to conduct legality check of timber before acquiring the timber, documentation, and keeping timber record.