On 21st -22nd March 2018, Ms.Helene Perier, the EU team leader, Mr.Alexander Hinrichs, the ASEAN EFI team leader, and the EU representative in Thailand paid a visit and had a meeting with Thailand leading by Mr.Pralong Damrongthai, an Inspector General of the Ministry of National Resources and Environment acted as the chairman of the meeting by covering for Ms. Suthiruk Rawiwan, the director general of the Royal Forest Department. In this regard, Mr. Uthapol Charoenchansa, the Deputy Director General of the Royal Forest Department, together with the sub-committee from any relevant organizations and observers from RECOFTC and FAO were also involved in the meeting. The meeting was held by Thai-EU FLEGT Secretariat Office (TEFSO) at Rama Gardens Hotel in Bangkok.
The meeting was aimed to technically discuss FLEGT VPA process and follow up on the implementation after the Second Joint Expert Meeting (JEM 2) between Thailand and the European Union (EU).
During the meeting on the 21st March 2018, Thailand and the EU exchanged views on the present situation of FLEGT VPA process both in Thailand and the European Union. For Thailand, there were 4 annexes being in the developing and revising process that are product scope, legality definition, Thai legality assurance system (TLAS), and supply chain controls, while others are under the consideration.
On the same day, Thailand presented and discussed the LD filed test with the EU. However, some recommendations would be taken into account and developed in complying with Thai context for the further process. Also, the additional information concerning the product scope annex was raised as the furniture products are currently brought into the product scope. After that, Thailand raised some questions regarding the VPA main text draft since there were some controversial and skeptic issues to be discussed in the meeting. However, Thailand would bring the suggestions to internally discuss for the further process.
On the 22nd March 2018, The Inspector General of the Ministry of National Resources and Environment together with all relevant organizations from Thailand had a meeting with the representatives from the European Union. The discussion was regarding verification mechanism on unregulated species on private land which are not included in the Measure 7 and that on import. Moreover, Thai side also presented the supply chain control and timber legality assurance system of Thailand. Thses were in order to ensure our capacity to verify and to discuss any issues might need to be further improved. In this regard, the representatives from the EU had raised some questions and also provided some suggestions for the further development of this matter.
Before the end of the meeting, Thailand and the EU had an agreement on the VPA negotiation roadmap focussing on the implementation before the 4th Joint Expert Meeting (JEM4) and the 2nd negotiation (NEG2) between Thailand and the EU on this July 2018.
