Indonesia-EU take step to tackle illegal logging

Indonesian Forestry Minister Zulkipli Hasan and Trade Commissioner of European Union (EU) Karel de Gucht are to issue a joint statement on the final result of negotiation for Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade, a release from Indonesian Trade Ministry said here on Thursday.


The VPA accommodated the Timber Legality Assurance System, a standard implemented by Indonesia and EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Policy.


"This stressed a strong commitment of EU and Indonesia on responding problem of illegal logging and international trades," it said.


Previously, the Indonesian government has said that the EU regulation has helped Indonesia to trim deforestation.


EU rejects timbers which have no document of its origin, which means that log from illegal logging can not enter EU market.


Indonesia which has large rainforest has struggled to reduce deforestation by exercising strong law enforcement.
(Source:http://news.xinhuanet.com)