Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA)

What is a VPA?

VPA stands for Voluntary Partnership Agreement. A VPA is a bilateral and binding trade agreement signed between the European Union and a timber producing country outside the EU. It is a tool to combat illegal logging and importing of such timber into the EU market. The mechanism will improve good governance in the rules and regulations of the partner country.

What does a VPA contain?

The main component of the VPA is Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS). The system is designed to verify, track, and issue licenses for legal timber to certify its legality. Furthermore, The VPA also includes 10 Annex.

How VPA is negotiated?

Process	Description
1. Information exchange	The EU exchanges information on VPA to the interested timber-producing countries. The timber-producing countries decide whether VPA is beneficial.
2. Formal negotiation	Discussion between government and stakeholders of the VPA countries to develop the Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS). Negotiation between the EU and the VPA countries to conclude the VPA agreement and TLAS arrangement.
3. Agreement signing and enforcement	The EU and VPA countries sign the agreement. The VPA countries operate TLAS system.
4. FLEGT Licensing	TLAS verifies timber and timber products. Verified products receive FLEGT license.

Progress in VPA

Currently, there are 13 VPA countries in the different stages of the VPA process; ongoing negotiation, concluded negotiation, implementation, and operational FLEGT licensing. At the moment, Indonesia is the only VPA country that issues a FLEGT license.

Benefits of VPA

Improve good governance and clarify the legal framework.
Promote stakeholder participation.
Timber is legally harvested and produced.
Increase competitiveness on the world market.