On 29th – 30th June 2017, Thai EU FLEGT Secretariat Office (TEFSO) under The Royal Forest Department arranges the 1st FLEGT VPA Negotiations between Thailand and EU (NEG1) at Centara Grand Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok
Mr. Wijarn Simachaya, Permanent secretary of Ministry of Natural and Environmental (MNRE) is the leader of thai side. Together with Mr.Chonlatit Surasawadi, Director General of The Royal Forest Department, Mr. Pralong Damrongthai, Inspector General of Ministry of Natural and Environmental (MNRE), Mr. Banjong Wongsrisoontorn, Director of Thai-EU FLEGT Secretariat Office and representatives from relevant ministries as leader committee. And the committee of European Union Side led by Mr. Jorge RODRIGUEZ ROMERO, Head of European Commission, DG Environment – Unit F.3: Global Multilateral Cooperation and his team as leader committee.
The main topics of the negotiation is consists of Legislative developments, Discussion of FLEGT operations, Legality definition, Product scope, Verification mechanisms, Import verification, TLAS and endorsement of road map for the next meeting.
In the topic of Legislative developments, both sides pay attention to set a clear way forward to address gaps in a systematic way, including technical issues under the control of RFD, but also broader actions coordinated through recently established National Forest Policy Committee.
The European Union is interested in the understanding of legal requirements for consultation under the new Thai Constitution and also interest to learn more about RFD 4.0/RFD National Single Window computer systems that allow real time monitoring of forest resources and all timber movements.
In terms of important processes that have been implemented at the technical level thorough field test on LD and its operational aspects to start at upcoming July. This process will be work through the operation of both Thai and foreign consultants with EFI support .
In the topic of Product Scope, the agreement to include furniture into product scope at a later stage, but to develop a legality definition and TLAS that already include furniture. The European Union also share import/export data of timber and timber products according to EUTR. And the Thai side will share export data structure according to the draft product scope later.
In the topic of Verification mechanisms, Involvement of civil society and private sector into the identification and design of such verification mechanisms, including on unregulated species – Design of a proportionate and balanced system.
Finally, both sides endorse of roadmap developed by JEM as follows:
– The Upcoming Video Conference will be held in upcoming October
– The Third Joint Expert Meeting (JEM3) will be held in upcoming December
– The next Video Conference will be held in February 2018
– The Fourth Joint Expert Meeting (JEM4) and the Second FLEGT VPA Negotiations (NEG2) will be held in March 2018
