Analysis of timber legality assurance systems and good practices in China and Vietnam for sustainable timber trade

[Background]

In recent years, the domestic and international socio-political and business environments surrounding the forestry industry and its trade have seen significant and rapid change relating to both legality and sustainability throughout timber supply chains and seeking contributions to the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2017, the Government of Japan enacted the Act for the Promotion of Use and Distribution of Legally harvested Wood and Wood Products (the Clean Wood Act) to promote distribution and utilization of legally harvested wood products. Under this law, importers are required to take measures to ensure that the wood products they are importing into Japan are legally sourced in compliance with the laws and regulations of the countries of origin.

[Objectives and target countries]

With funding by the Forestry Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, and implemented as a project of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), this project is conducted to support the legal and sustainable timber trade. This project analyses existing legality assurance systems and equivalent schemes and best practices in China and Vietnam to support Japanese and international stakeholders in the legal and sustainable timber trade.

[Summary]

China and Vietnam are important suppliers of timber products to many countries, including Japan. Both countries are timber-processing and timber-trading countries, importing timber from tropical countries to manufacture products. Household tree growers are the main actors in the supply of domestic planted timber materials, and there are a large number of small-medium-sized processors. These features make the supply chains more complex and layered, making it challenging for importers to conduct their due diligence and identify the legal origin of timber products.

This ITTO project conducted a survey to support importers’ due diligence to ensure the legal provenance of their timber and their commitment to contributing to sustainable forest management. The webinar presented the results of surveys in China and Vietnam as follows:

China
The webinar explored the revised Forest Law in China, focusing on how it addressed illegally sourced timber, and it discussed the results of a questionnaire survey of Chinese timber-related businesses on measures to ensure the legality of their timber products.

Vietnam
The webinar discussed the risk species in timber products exported from Vietnam to Japan based on the risk criteria set by Vietnamese law. It also shared the measures taken by Vietnamese operators that may help with the due diligence of timber products made by planted tree species.