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Indonesian Forestry Sector Backs Timber Verification Scheme
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Jakarta, Indonesia, 26 March 2012 -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- All major trade associations representing the forestry sector have together launched a declaration outlining the eight practical steps required to be undertaken by industry, stakeholders, and international trade partners to achieve world-class timber production and trade standards through implementation of the Wood Legality and Verification System (SVLK).

The declaration was agreed to at a formal ceremony in Jakarta on 20 March 2012 during the 2nd High Level Market Dialogue 2012. The introduction of SVLK in Indonesia will ensure that only wood products verified as legal will enter the market. At the event, the forestry associations pledged to fully support the Government of Indonesia’s efforts to:

1. Engage with all stakeholders from across the forest industry's multi-layer supply chains to help finalize and implement full SVLK compliance.

2. Encourage an examination of the desirability of adopting a phased approach to SVLK implementation across the industry to ensure a successful transition to full compliance of all companies, thereby mitigating possible production, trade and market disruption.

3. Assist (i) small- to medium-sized companies, (ii) companies operating in remote areas, and (iii) community based companies to be fully SVLK compliant, in line with the Government of Indonesia's sustainable forestry development plan.

4. Work with foreign countries to build and strengthen an efficient mechanism to promote legal wood product and avoiding unnecessary administrative and financial impact on verified legal Indonesian timber and timber-based producers.

5. Encourage foreign countries to ensure consistency of policy application, encourage national public procurement policies to prioritize verified legal products and to support the introduction of the same high standards across the private sector.

6. Communicate and promote SVLK to global stakeholders consistently as the highest standard to verify legality and as the foundation for the sustainable forest management (SFM) certification scheme in Indonesia (PHPL/SFM).

7. Encourage a reciprocal responsibility on the part of VPA partners and also the wider international community to ensure only wood products that are verified as legal enter the market.

8. Seek active participation in process to implement the VPA such as the Indonesia/EU Joint Participatory Committee.

Trade associations present at the signing of the declaration were GPEI (Indonesian Exporters Association), MPI (Indonesian Forestry Community), APHI (Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires), APKINDO (The Indonesian Wood Panel Association), ISWA (The Indonesia Sawmill and Woodworking Association), APKI (The Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association) and ASMINDO (The Indonesian Furniture Industry and Handicraft Association).

“As an active member of the forestry associations, APP fully supports the declaration, which is focusing on a multi stakeholder approach to providing assistance to smaller, community-based and geographically remote companies as well as to ensure a sustainable implementation of the SVLK," said Aida Greenbury, managing director, Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). "APP finalized its SVLK audit preparation earlier this year and the full audit will be rolled out in April 2012 with a target for finalization in the first quarter of 2013.”

About SVLK

The Wood Legality Verification System (SVLK) is Indonesia’s chain of custody certification program, enacted in 2009. This system ensures that wood products exported from the country are legal and traceable to verified points of origin. SVLK is designed to ensure that the industry will only receive and process timber from legal sources according to the regulations of Indonesia. The regulations cover aspects of licensing, harvesting, transporting, and processing for the industry. SVLK is an important step in the effort to achieve full SFM certification.

About APP

Asia Pulp and Paper Group (APP) is a brand umbrella for paper products made by several mills in Indonesia, including PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper Tbk, PT Pindo Deli Pulp and Paper Mills, PT Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia Tbk, PT Lontar Papyrus Pulp and Paper Industries, and PT Ekamas Fortuna. APP is headquartered in Indonesia and markets its product to more than 120 countries. Most of APP’s production facilities are chain-of-custody certified by LEI and PEFC. APP supports several main conservation initiatives, including a 178,000 hectare biosphere reserve in Giam Siak Kecil - Bukit Batu and an area of 106,000 hectares for the Senepis Tiger Sanctuary. Both are located in the province of Riau, Sumatera. Other APP wildlife preservation initiatives include the support of the Kutai Orangutan Program in Kalimantan and the conservation of the Javan rhino in Ujung Kulon National Park.

 

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