RI-EU to Sign Legal Timber Agreement

Bogor (Antara Bali) - Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said he would leave for Brussels on Monday to sign  "Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade-Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA) with the European Union.

Under the agreement, due diligence is no longer needed for Indonesian timber products exported to the EU, Zulkifli said here on Wednesday.

The agreement is expected to contribute to the government program to eradicate illegal logging in the country, he said after attending a forestry seminar here.

However, timber importing countries should  fully accept Indonesian timber products which have legal certificate without restriction, he said.

Consumer countries are expected not to import illegal products of timber, he said. "With the FLEGT-VPA  there would be no more case like that of Labora Sitorus," he said referring to low ranking police officer now facing legal case on charge of illegal timber trade in Papua .

"It would be unfair if consumer countries continue to import illegal products of timber  while we have worked hard to eradicate illegal logging," he said
  
Earlier the  minister said  with the application of timber legality verification system (TLVS) Indonesia is ready to enter the global market.

TLVS certificate indicates that the timber products are from logs legally harvested. The minister said last year Indonesia shipped timber with the certificate of V-Legal to eight member countries of the EU to test the credibility of the system. (*/DWA)