Chairman of the Vietnam Rubber Association Tran Ngoc Thuan addresses the project launch on November 11 (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - The Vietnam RubberAssociation (VRA) on November 11 kicked off a project promoting the sector’scompliance with the Vietnam Timber Legal Assurance System (VNTLAS).
Supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) and the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, the project aims to helpfarmers and businesses improve their capacity and meet VNTLAS’s requirements forsmall-scale supply chains.
In order to fulfil commitments in the Vietnam-EUVoluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade(VPA/FLEGT), which was signed in 2018 and took effect on June 1, 2019, thePrime Minister issued Decree No 102/2020/ND-CP on VNTLAS.
VNTLAS is a national system to ensure compliance withtimber legislation at each stage of the supply chain, including harvesting,importing, purchasing, selling, transporting, processing, and exporting.
Speaking at the launch, VRA Chairman Tran Ngoc Thuan saidrubber timber contributes significantly to Vietnam’s wood supply and isconsidered a sustainable material, making it stand out as the market demands thatwoodwork products for domestic consumption and export be traceable and legallyassured.
In 2019, Vietnam was home to 943,000 ha of rubberforests, with rubber timber and woodwork products exported to more than 100countries and territories.
Tran Hong Van, project coordinator, said it is runningfrom July 2020 to July 2021, piloted in the southern provinces of Binh Duongand Tay Ninh, and aims to boost the trade of legal wood products andsustainable forest management.
She added that the project will provide an overview ofthe country’s rubber wood industry, identify challenges in following theVNTLAS, and compile guiding materials for farmers and businesses involved,among other things./.
VNA
