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VOLUNTARY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT Between the European Union and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products into the European Union…Click here for full text of the VPA
ANNEX I
Product Scope
Date of Document: September 11, 2018
Version of document: 4
Status: Draft
PRODUCT SCOPE
The list in this Annex refers to the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System established by the International Convention on the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System of the World Customs Union….Click here for more information
ANNEX II
Draft Legality Definition for EU – Guyana Voluntary Partnership Agreement
Date of Document: September 26, 2018
Version of document:
Status: Draft
Introduction
This Annex sets out the Legality Definition (LD) for ‘legal timber’ applicable to this Agreement. The LD may be updated as and when required during the implementation of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Article 25 of the Agreement.
The LD forms an integral part of the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS) described in Annex V.
The LD is based on the relevant national legal and regulatory framework in force and sets out principles, criteria, indicators and verifiers required to prove compliance with such framework. The LD also includes additional legal references that are relevant for the implementation of this Agreement and the overall functioning of the GTLAS. These references and other applicable laws and regulations can be found in Appendix 1 of this Annex. The LD applies to all Forest Sector Operators (FSOs) countrywide and for all timber products listed in Annex 1 and covers domestic and international trade….Click here for more information
ANNEX III
CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE RELEASE FOR FREE CIRCULATION IN THE UNION OF TIMBER PRODUCTS EXPORTED FROM GUYANA AND COVERED BY A FLEGT LICENCE
Date of Document: September 11 2018
Version of document:
Status:
Article 1
Lodging of the licence
1. The licence shall be lodged with the competent authorities of the Union Member State in which the shipment covered by that licence is declared for release for free circulation1. This may be done electronically or by other expeditious means.
2. The competent authorities referred to in paragraph 1 shall, in accordance with the applicable national procedures, inform the customs authorities as soon as a licence has been accepted….Click here for more information
ANNEX IV
Requirements and Technical Specifications for FLEGT Licences
Date of Document: September 26 2018
Version of document: 3
Status: Draft
General requirements relating to FLEGT licences
1. Any shipment of timber products listed in Annex I to this Agreement which is exported from Guyana to the Union is required to have a FLEGT licence. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 and this Agreement, the Union shall accept such shipments from Guyana for import into the Union only if they are covered by FLEGT licences.
2. In accordance with point (j) of Article 2 of this Agreement, a FLEGT licence is a document issued by the Licensing Authority which confirms that a shipment of timber products intended for export to the Union has been legally produced and verified in accordance with the criteria laid down in this Agreement.
3. FLEGT licences may be issued in paper or electronic form….Click here for more information
ANNEX V
The Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS)
Date of Document: September 26 2018
Version of document:
Status: Draft
Introduction
As part of international efforts to address illegal logging and its associated trade, a growing number of countries have adopted measures to prevent the trade in illegal timber products. Guyana’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the Union complements Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy. In implementing the VPA, Guyana will build on its existing legality assurance system to further strengthen the fight against illegal logging and associated trade, and maintain a low rate of deforestation and forest degradation.a…Click here for more information
Annex VI
Terms of Reference for the Independent Audit of the GTLAS
Date of Document: September 26 2018
Version of document:
Status: Draft
Introduction
The Independent Audit is carried out in accordance with Article 10 of this Agreement. The Independent Audit will address operators and their operations listed in Annex II and will be applied to the timber products listed in Annex I. It will also cover all stages of the supply chain as described in Annex V namely: legal status; legal access to the forest; harvesting; transportation; non-compliance and confiscated timber; processing; sale; import; and export.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) included in this Annex describe the operations and functions of the Independent Audit to assess the system of legality assurance established in this Agreement. The operations of the Independent Audit provides assurance that timber harvested, transported, processed, exported, imported or sold on the domestic market complies with Annex II…Click here for more information
ANNEX VII
Supporting Measures and Financing Mechanisms
Date of Document: September 11 2018
Version of document:
Status: Draft
The forest sector in Guyana remains an important contributor to the national economy, generating employment and contributing to poverty reduction. The forest sector is also key for interventions in Guyana’s Green Development Agenda in attracting resources from the international community to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilisation of its forest resources. In complimenting resources from the international community, Guyana commits to include funding from national budgetary allocations to support the development of the value-added sector of the industry.
Guyana will take a range of supporting measures, as indicated in Article 15(1) of this Agreement, in cooperation with the Union and its Member States and other development partners to implement this Agreement effectively…Click here for more information
ANNEX VIII
Criteria for Assessing the Operationality of Guyana’s Timber Legality Assurance System
Date of Document: September 26, 2018
Version of document:
Status: Draft
Background
A joint independent technical evaluation of the GTLAS will be carried out before the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensing of timber exports to the European Union commences. This joint technical evaluation will assess the entire system to determine whether adequate mechanisms are in place to ensure the GTLAS functions and performs in practice as intended. The evaluation will review the system description with special focus on any revisions made to the Agreement after ratification….Click here for more information
ANNEX IX
Public Access to Information on the FLEGT Licence
Date of Document: September 26 2018
Version of document:
Status: Draft
Introduction
In line with the policies of Guyana and the Union to manage natural resources in a transparent and accountable way, the Parties agree that the availability of information is essential for the successful implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (Agreement). The Parties therefore commit to ensuring that there is continuing access to information to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of the Agreement. The Parties also undertake to ensure that the information acquired under the Guyana Timber Legality Assurance System (GTLAS) established under the Agreement is made available to the public…Click here for more information
ANNEX X
Joint Monitoring and Review Committee
Date of Document: October 2, 2018
Version of document:
Status: Draft
The Parties, in exercising the powers and obligations under Article 19 of this Agreement, establish the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee (JMRC).
The Parties shall appoint their representatives to the JMRC.
The JMRC shall function, in accordance with rules of procedures it will develop and adopt.
The specific functions and tasks of the JMRC relate to the management, monitoring and review of the implementation of the Agreement, including the management of the independent auditThe JMRC shall also promote dialogue and the exchange of information between the Parties….Click here for more information
Supply Chain Control
Date of Document: 11/13/2015
Version: 1
Status of Document: Draft
Supply Chain Control…Click here for more information