FLEGT Process Enforces PM Order No.15 to Improve Forest Governance and Fight Deforestation to Ensure Legal Timber Trade Agreement With EU

A remarkable outcome has been witnessed after the Prime Minister of Lao PDR has issued the Order No. 15 On “Strengthening Strictness of Timber Harvest Management and Inspection, Timber Transport and Business” in the battle to clamp down on the notorious illegal trade of logs and semi-finished products to neighbouring countries.

Good forest governance and management will ensure that Lao timber trade could gain access to major timber markets such as ASEAN, China, Korea, Japan, USA and the EU. This initiative is also in line with the objectives of the Lao EU-FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) process, an initiative of the Government of Lao PDR currently embarking on to promote good governance in the forestry sector and legal timber trade, especially with the European Union.