VGP – The Việt Nam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFORES) has rejected the UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) wrong accusations that some Vietnamese wood processors imported illicit timber from Laos for products exported to the US and EU.
Illustration photo
Mr. Trần Đức Sinh, Chairman of VIFORES voiced the rejection yesterday at a press briefing, affirming that Vietnamese enterprises have imported legal timber from the neighboring country.
He said the Vietnamese enterprises’ imported timber has been exploited by partners nominated and licensed by the Lao Government under yearly quotas. In addition, that timber was strickly checked by Lao and Vietnamese customs officers and ranger inspectors.
“Việt Nam imported 100,000 – 200,000 cubic meters of timber from Laos which account for a small proportion of its demand for timber import of about 4 million cubic meters a year”.
Vietnamese enterprises have used timber imported from Laos to produce furniture for domestic consumption, stated Mr. Sinh.
According to the official, the country is shipping only FSC-certified wood products to the EU under strict assessment of third international organizations.
The report regarding the issue published by the EIA is completely wrong, distorting information and applying non-transparent survey methods which would damage Vietnamese timber exporters’ long-term benefits and the domestic industry’s prestige, Sinh said./.
