Guidance on procedures for verification of timber origin before export in Vietnam

Guidance on procedures for verification of timber origin before export in Vietnam (Internet image)

Article 9 of Decree 102/2020/ND-CP provides guidance on procedures for verification of timber origin before export in Vietnam as follows:

1. Subject of verification: Shipments of timber for export of owners other than Category I enterprises.

Verification is not required for shipments of timber derived from domestic cultivated forests for export to non-EU markets

2. Verifying authority: domestic forest protection authority.

3. An application for verification of timber origin for export shall consist of:

- Original copy of Form No. 04 in Appendix I hereof;

- Original copy of the packing list for exported timber (Form No. 05 or 06 in Appendix I hereof);

- Copies of the timber dossier for import specified in Article 7 of this Decree or documents about origin of domestically harvested timber according to regulations on the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on management and tracing of forest product origins.

4. The owner shall sent submit the application in person, by post, by email or through the enterprise classification system.

5. Procedures:

- The owner shall submit 01 application prescribed in Clause 3 of this Article to the domestic forest protection authority (verifying authority). Within 01 working day from the receipt of the application, the verifying authority shall carry out the verification or, if the application is invalid, instruct the owner in person or in writing to supplement the application;

- The verifying authority shall complete the field check within 03 working days from the receipt of the valid application in accordance with Clause 6 of this Article and grant the certification. In case certification is not granted, the verifying authority shall send a written notification and provide explanation within 01 working day from the day on which the verification record is issued.

6. Inspecting export shipments of timber:

- Inspection time: before the shipment is loaded onto the means of transport;

- Inspection location: The warehouse/depot where the shipment is stored as requested by the owner;

- Inspection contents: compare documents prepared by the owner with the actual weight, quantity, specifications, types and origin of timber; legality of the shipment; issue inspection record according to Form No. 07 in the Appendix hereof and certify the packing list;

- 20% of the timber shipments shall undergo field check. When informed of violations, forest protection officials shall propose increase in this percentage and extension of inspection period for up to 02 more days to the head of the forest protection authority, who will be legally responsible for his/her decision.

More details can be found in Decree 102/2020/ND-CP which comes into force from October 30, 2020.

Ty Na

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