The 1st FLEGT VPA Ad-Hoc Working Group Meeting 2018

On 18th January 2018, Thai EU FLEGT secretariat office arranged The 1st FLEGT VPA Ad-Hoc Working Group at Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, which has Mr. Sapol Boonsermsuk the Director of International Forestry Cooperation Office as a chairman of the meeting.

The key points from the first meeting of an Ad-hoc working group are follows:

1.The Director of Forestry Certification Office informed the meeting about the revising of the commands related to FLEGT implementation which as follows:

The command of Royal Forest Department working group for certifying the international timber trade

The command of FLEGT working group
The command of FLEGT Sub-committee
The command of FLEGT Negotiation committee
The presentation of the report of LD field test

2.The consultant presented the result of LD field test and suggestions.

The meeting resolved to revise draft of LD and agreed to hire the consultant for drafting the new version of LD. In addition, the meeting also appointed the sub-working group for revising LD which the first meeting will be arranged on the 23^rd of January 2018 at TEFSO. The objectives of the meeting are to give the comments on the report of LD field test and then submit to the consultant for revising new version of LD.

3.The suggestions of developing the TLAS draft

The consultant presented the suggestions to develop the draft of TLAS. The meeting was informed those suggestions and agreed to hire the TLAS consultant for develop Thai TLAS, They also appointed the TLAS sub-working group which will take responsibilities for support related documents to TLAS consultant.

4.The update of unregulated species verification on private land

The representative of Federation of Thai Industries presented the revision of the flowchart of unregulated species verification on private land. The meeting has informed the update and appointed the sub-working group. Moreover, the project of the developing of unregulated species verification on private land was adopted by the AHWG.

5.The update of the guideline of imported timber control

The representative of Federation of Thai Industries informed the meeting about the result of the consultation with Ministry of Commerce on legislating DDS regulations and the results of DDS small-working group meeting. The meeting resolved to appoint the sub-working group on DDS which the next sub-working meeting will be arranged on the 9^th of February 2018.

6. The next AHWG meeting

For the second of AHWG will be arranged on the 15^th of February 2018, the meeting aims to preparation about the imported timber control, unregulated species verification on private land, the developing of LD draft and TLAS developing.