The ASEAN Member States (AMS) represents as important players in global forest and timber trade. The total exports of timber and timber products from ASEAN (excluding Brunei Darussalam and Singapore) increased by 50% from USD 18 billion in 2006 to USD 27 billion in 2016, which was 7% of global exports. Indeed, the activities in the global forest and timber trade at the AMS are not only engaging the public, but also the private sectors. At present, some ASEAN producing countries have gradually become net importers from net producers due to the increasing expansion of private sectors’ activities in those countries.
Considering the recent trend of imports for forest and timbers, the 40th AMAF Meeting held on 11 October 2019 in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, agreed to develop a regional voluntary code of conduct (CoC) on imports for forest and timber companies in ASEAN. The CoC will encourage private sectors to conduct legitimate business and manage sustainable long-term enterprises, also responding to local and regional market demands for timber that is complying with the basic legal regulations. Aside from that, this initiative will promote legal and sustainable legal trade, also Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) best practices in ASEAN.?As part of the FLEG Work Plan, the CoC will be an important tool to improve forest governance involving the private sectors in the region.
DOWNLOAD THE VOLUNTARY CODE OF CONDUCT
ASEAN Voluntary Code of Conduct on Imports for Forest and Timber Companies
