Harvested timber
- Document symbol
- G/LIC/N/3/GBR/3
- Original language
- English
- Published on
- 07/12/2023
Outline of Systems
Q1. Give a brief description of each licensing system as a whole and, with respect to each, reply to the following questions as relevant, placing all of the material with respect to a given system in sequence together, and using cross references as appropriate when elements which have already been described are also present in another system.
The FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) licensing scheme is a voluntary scheme to ensure that only legally harvested timber is imported into the UK from countries with which the UK concludes bilateral FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs). Under the scheme a partner country issues FLEGT licences for every shipment of timber products covered by the agreement exported to the UK. The release for free circulation in the UK of such shipments is conditional on the acceptance by the UK competent authority of the FLEGT licence. The competent authority may verify the authenticity of the FLEGT licence and its conformity with the shipment that it covers.
Purposes and Coverage of Licensing
Q2. Identify each licensing system maintained and state what products, appropriately grouped, are covered.
Timber products (defined in the Agreements by HS codes) exported from FLEGT partner countries to the UK are covered by a FLEGT licence issued by the licensing authority of that country. The FLEGT licence demonstrates that the timber products have complied with relevant legislation as set out in the corresponding bilateral FLEGT VPAs. Once operational, the implementation of the licensing scheme requires that imports of relevant timber products into the UK be made subject to a system of checks and controls so that only FLEGT licensed timber will be imported to the UK.
Timber products to which the FLEGT licensing scheme applies irrespective of the partner country:
| Product Description | HS code |
|---|---|
| Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared | 4403 |
| Railway or tramway sleepers (cross-ties) of wood | 4406 |
| Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6 mm | 4407 |
| Sheets for veneering (including those obtained by slicing laminated wood), for plywood or for other similar laminated wood and other wood, sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded, spliced or end-jointed, of a thickness not exceeding6mm | 4408 |
| Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood | 4412 |
Timber products to which the FLEGT licensing scheme applies only in relation to the Republic of Indonesia:
| Product description | HS Code |
|---|---|
| Fuel wood, in logs, in billets, in twigs, in faggots or in similar forms; wood in chips or particles; sawdust and wood waste and scrap, whether or not agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms. - Wood in chips or particles -- coniferous - Wood in chips or particles -- non coniferous (not from bamboo nor rattan) | 4401.21 Ex. 4401.22 |
| Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared. (Prohibited from export under the Indonesian law. In line with Article 3(3) of the VPA, products under this HS code may not be FLEGT licensed and therefore may not be imported into the United Kingdom). | 4403 |
| Chipwood and the like - coniferous Chipwood and the like - non-coniferous -- Chipwood | Ex. 4404.10 Ex. 4404.20 |
| Hoopwood; split poles; piles, pickets and stakes of wood, pointed but not sawn lengthwise; wooden sticks, roughly trimmed, but not turned, bent or otherwise worked, suitable for the manufacture of walking-sticks, umbrellas, tool handles or the like. (Prohibited from export under the Indonesian law. In line with Article 3(3) of the VPA, products under this HS code may not be FLEGT licensed and therefore may not be imported into the United Kingdom). | Ex. 4404 |
| Railway or tramway sleepers (cross-ties) of wood. (Prohibited from export under the Indonesian law. In line with Article 3(3) of the VPA, products under this HS code may not be FLEGT licensed and therefore may not be imported into the United Kingdom). | 4406 |
| Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, planed, sanded or end-jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm. | Ex. 4407 |
| Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, not planed, not sanded or not end jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6mm. (Prohibited from export under the Indonesian law. In line with Article 3(3) of the VPA, products under this HS code may not be FLEGT licensed and therefore may not be imported into the United Kingdom). | Ex. 4407 |
| Sheets for veneering (including those obtained by slicing laminated wood), for plywood or for similar laminated wood and other wood, sawn lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed, sanded, spliced or end-jointed, of a thickness not exceeding 6 mm Coniferous | 4408.10 |
| Dark Red Meranti, Light Red Meranti, and Meranti Bakau | 4408.31 |
| Other, except coniferous, Dark Red Meranti, Light Red Meranti, and Meranti Bakau | 4408.39 |
| Other, except coniferous and tropical wood specified in Subheading Note 2 to this chapter (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4408.90 |
| Wood (including strips and friezes for parquet flooring, not assembled) continuously shaped (tongued, grooved, rebated, chamfered, V-jointed, beaded, moulded, rounded or the like) along any of its edges, ends or faces, whether or not planed, sanded or end-jointed. - Coniferous – - Non-coniferous – other (not from rattan) | 4409.10 Ex. 4409.29 |
| Particle board, oriented strand board (OSB) and similar board (for example, waferboard) of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or not agglomerated with resins or other organic binding substances. - Of wood -- Particle board (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4410.11 |
| - Of wood -- Oriented strand board (OSB) (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4410.12 |
| Of wood -- Other (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4410.19 |
| Fibreboard of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or not bonded with resins or other organic substances (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4411 |
| Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood - Other plywood, consisting solely of sheets of wood (other than bamboo), each ply not exceeding 6mm thickness: -- With at least one outer ply of tropical wood specified in Subheading Note 2 to this Chapter | 4412.31 |
| - Other plywood, consisting solely of sheets of wood (other than bamboo), each ply not exceeding 6mm thickness: -- Other, with at least one outer ply of non-coniferous wood | 4412.32 |
| - Other plywood, consisting solely of sheets of wood (other than bamboo), each ply not exceeding 6mm thickness: -- Other | 4412.39 |
| - Other: -- Blockboard, laminboard and battenboard (not from rattan) | Ex. 4412.94 |
| - Other: -- Other: --- Barecore (wood waste glued together) (not from rattan) and --- Other (not from rattan) | Ex. 4412.99 |
| Densified wood, in blocks, plates, strips or profile shapes (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4413 |
| Wooden frames for paintings, photographs, mirrors or similar objects (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4414 |
| Packing cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packings, of wood; cable-drums of wood; pallets, box pallets and other load boards, of wood; pallet collars of wood (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4415 |
| Casks, barrels, vats, tubs and other coopers' products and parts thereof, of wood, including staves (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4416 |
| Tools, tool bodies, tool handles, broom or brush bodies and handles, of wood; boot or shoe lasts and trees, of wood (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4417 |
| Builders' joinery and carpentry of wood, including cellular wood panels, assembled flooring panels, shingles and shakes (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4418 |
| Tableware and kitchenware, of wood (not from bamboo and rattan) | Ex. 4419 |
| Wood marquetry and inlaid wood; caskets and cases for jewellery or cutlery, and similar articles, of wood. - Other -- Wood in the form of logs or squared logs with simple process in the surface, carved or finely threaded or painted, does not have significant added-value and no significant change in shape (HS Ex. 4420.90.90.00 in Indonesia) (Prohibited from export under the Indonesian law. In line with Article 3(3) of the VPA, products under this HS code may not be FLEGT licensed and therefore may not be imported into the United Kingdom). | Ex. 4420.90 |
| Other articles of wood - Other -- Match splints (not from bamboo nor rattan) and -- Other --- Wooden paving blocks (not from bamboo nor rattan) | Ex. 4421.90 |
| - Other -- Other --- Wood in the form of logs or squared logs with simple process in the surface, carved or finely threaded or painted, does not have significant added-value and no significant change in shape (HS Ex. 4421.90.99.00 in Indonesia) (Prohibited from export under the Indonesian law. In line with Article 3(3) of the VPA, products under this HS code may not be FLEGT licensed and therefore may not be imported into the United Kingdom). | Ex. 4421.90 |
| Chapter 47 | |
| Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard: Mechanical wood pulp | 4701 |
| Chemical wood pulp, dissolving grades | 4702 |
| Chemical wood pulp, soda or sulphate, other than dissolving grades. | 4703 |
| Chemical wood pulp, sulphite, other than dissolving grades | 4704 |
| Wood pulp obtained by a combination of mechanical and chemical pulping processes | 4705 |
| Chapter 48 | |
| Uncoated paper and paperboard, of a kind used for writing, printing or other graphic purposes, and non-perforated punch-cards and punch tape paper, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, of any size, other than paper of heading 4801 or 4803; handmade paper and paperboard (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4802 |
| Toilet or facial tissue stock, towel or napkin stock and similar paper of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibres, whether or not creped, crinkled, embossed, perforated, surface -coloured, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or sheets (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4803 |
| Uncoated kraft paper and paperboard, in rolls or sheets, other than that of heading 4802 or 4803 (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4804 |
| Other Uncoated paper and paperboard, in rolls or sheets, not further worked or processed than as specify in Note 3 to this chapter (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4805 |
| Vegetable parchment, greaseproof papers, tracing papers and glassine and other glazed transparent or translucent papers, in rolls or sheets (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4806 |
| Composite paper and paperboard (made by sticking flat layers of paper or paperboard together with an adhesive), not surface-coated or impregnated, whether or not internally reinforced, in rolls or sheets (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4807 |
| Paper and paperboard, corrugated (with or without glued flat surface sheets), creped, crinkled, embossed or perforated, in rolls or sheets, other than paper of the kind described in heading 4803 (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4808 |
| Carbon paper, self-copy paper and other copying or transfer papers (including coated or impregnated paper for duplicator stencils or offset plates), whether or not printed, in rolls or sheets (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4809 |
| Paper and paperboard, coated on one or both sides with kaolin (China clay) or other inorganic substances, with or without binder, and with no other coating, whether or not surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, of any size (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4810 |
| Paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs of cellulose fibres, coated, impregnated, covered, surface-coloured, surface-decorated or printed, in rolls or rectangular (including square) sheets, of any size, other than goods of the kind described in heading 4803, 4809 or 4810 (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4811 |
| Filter blocks, slabs and plates, of paper pulp (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4812 |
| Cigarette paper, whether or not cut to size or in the form booklets or tubes (not from nonwooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4813 |
| Wallpaper and similar wall covering; window transparencies of paper (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4814 |
| Carbon paper, self-copy paper and other copying or transfer papers (other than those of heading 4809), duplicator stencils and offset plates, of paper, whether or not put up in boxes (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4816 |
| Envelopes, letter cards, plain postcards and correspondence cards, of paper or paper board; boxes, pouches, wallets and writing compendiums, of paper or paperboard, containing an assortment of paper stationary (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4817 |
| Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres, of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, in rolls of a width not exceeding 36 cm, or cut to size or shape; handkerchief, cleansing tissues, towels, tablecloths, serviettes, napkins for babies, tampons, bed sheets and similar household, sanitary or hospital articles, articles of apparel and clothing accessories, of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4818 |
| Paper or paperboard labels of all kinds, whether or not printed (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4821 |
| Bobbins, spools, cops and similar support of paper pulp, paper or paper board whether or not perforated or hardened (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4822 |
| Other paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding and webs cellulose fibres, cut to size or shape; other articles of paper pulp, paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres (not from non-wooden nor recycled material) | Ex. 4823 |
| Note: Paper products originating from non-wooden or recycled material are accompanied by a formal letter from the Indonesian Ministry of Industry validating the use of nonwooden or recycled materials. Such products will not be FLEGT licensed. | |
| Chapter 94 | |
| Seats (other than those of heading 94.02), whether or not convertible into beds, and parts thereof - Other seats, with wooden frames: -- Upholstered | 9401.61 |
| - Other seats, with wooden frames: -- Other | 9401.69 |
| Other furniture and parts thereof - Wooden furniture of a kind used in offices | 9403.30 |
| - Wooden furniture of a kind used in the kitchen | 9403.40 |
| - Wooden furniture of a kind used in the bedroom | 9403.50 |
| - Other wooden furniture | 9403.60 |
| - Parts: -- Other (HS 9403.90.90 in Indonesia) | Ex. 9403.90 |
| Prefabricated buildings - Other prefabricated buildings: -- Of wood (HS 9406.00.92 in Indonesia) | Ex. 9406.00 |
| Chapter 97 | |
| Original engravings, prints and lithographs. Wood in the form of logs or squared logs with simple process in the surface, carved or finely threaded or painted, does not have significant added-value and no significant change in shape (HS Ex. 9702.00.00.00 in Indonesia) (Prohibited from export under the Indonesian law. In line with Article 3(3) of the VPA, products 25 under this HS code may not be FLEGT licensed and therefore may not be imported into the United Kingdom). | Ex. 9702.00 |
Timber products prohibited from export under Indonesian Law:
| Product description | HS Code |
|---|---|
| Chapter 44 | |
| Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared. | 4403 |
| Hoopwood; split poles; piles, pickets and stakes of wood, pointed but not sawn lengthwise; wooden sticks, roughly trimmed, but not turned, bent or otherwise worked, suitable for the manufacture of walking‑sticks, umbrellas, tool handles or the like. | Ex. 4404 |
| Railway or tramway sleepers (cross‑ties) of wood. | 4406 |
| Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, not planed, not sanded or not end‑jointed, of a thickness exceeding 6 mm. | Ex. 4407 |
| Wood marquetry and inlaid wood; caskets and cases for jewellery or cutlery, and similar articles, of wood. - Other -- Wood in the form of logs or squared logs with simple process in the surface, carved or finely threaded or painted, does not have significant added-value and no significant change in shape (HS Ex. 4420.90.90.00 in Indonesia). | Ex. 4420.90 |
| Other articles of wood. - Other -- Other --- Wood in the form of logs or squared logs with simple process in the surface, carved or finely threaded or painted, does not have significant added-value and no significant change in shape (HS Ex. 4421.90.99.00 in Indonesia). | Ex. 4421.90 |
| Original engravings, prints and lithographs. Wood in the form of logs or squared logs with simple process in the surface, carved or finely threaded or painted, does not have significant added-value and no significant change in shape (HS Ex. 9702.00.00.00 in Indonesia). | Ex. 9702.00 |
Q3. The system applies to goods originating in and coming from which countries?
The FLEGT licensing scheme is to be operational between the UK and Indonesia.
Q4. Is the licensing intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports, and if not, what are its purposes? Have alternative methods of accomplishing the purposes been considered and if so which? Why have they not been adopted?
The FLEGT licensing system has been put in place so that countries exporting to the UK can demonstrate that their exports of timber products to the UK are from legal sources. The scheme does not impose any restrictions neither in terms of quantity nor in terms of volumes to the imported goods. While the CITES Convention regulates trade in endangered species, including certain timber species, it does not cover the bulk of the timber trade. In the light of public concerns about imports of illegally harvested timber and the negative impact on perceptions of the timber sector, a bilateral approach to address the issue together with interested countries, accompanied by capacity building measures, was considered an appropriate measure to protect the environment from illegal logging.
An alternative approach could have been to rely on voluntary certification schemes; however, this would not provide the economies of scale or impact of a national approach and may not have adequately taken into account the role of producer governments in ensuring compliance with their relevant legislation.
Q5. Cite the law, regulation and/or administrative order under which the licensing is maintained. Is the licensing statutorily required? Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subjected to licensing to administrative discretion? Is it possible for the government (or the executive branch) to abolish the system without legislative approval?
The UK legal framework for the FLEGT licensing scheme is:
- Council Regulation (EC) No. 2173/2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community and implementing regulations;
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1024/2008 of 17 October 2008 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2173/2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community;
- The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulations 2012;
- The Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (EU Exit) Regulations 2018;
- The Environment and Wildlife (Legislative Functions) (EU exit) Regulations 2019;
- The Timber and Timber Products and FLEGT (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulation 2020.
FLEGT licensing is a statutory requirement at country level for those countries that enter into bilateral FLEGT VPAs. Once the parties have decided to make the scheme operational the products in scope are listed in an annex to the VPA and the FLEGT Regulation; the product list can be extended if both parties agree and the VPA is amended accordingly. The VPA provides provisions for each party to terminate the VPA 12 months after notification if desired.
The UK also transposed Regulation (EU) No. 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market (OJ L 295, 12.11.2010, p. 23), also known as the EU Timber Regulation or EUTR into UK domestic law as the UK timber Regulation. Valid FLEGT licenses (and CITES permits) are considered to automatically comply with the requirements of the UK Timber Regulation.
Procedures
Q6. For products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports (whether applicable globally or to a limited number of countries or whether established bilaterally or unilaterally):
Q6.I. Is information published, and where, concerning allocation of quotas and formalities of filing applications for licences? If not, how is it brought to the attention of possible importers? Of governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries and their trade representatives? Is the overall amount published? The amount allocated to goods from each country? The maximum amount allocated to each importer? How to request any exceptions or derogations from the licensing requirement?
Q6.II. How is the size of the quotas determined: on a yearly, six-monthly or quarterly basis? Are there cases where the size of quota is determined on a yearly basis but licences are issued for imports on a six-monthly or quarterly basis? In the latter case, is it necessary for importers to apply for fresh licence on a six-monthly or quarterly basis?
Q6.III. Are licences allotted for certain goods partly or only to domestic producers of like goods? What steps are taken to ensure that licences allocated are actually used for imports? Are unused allocations added to quotas for a succeeding period? Are the names of importers to whom licences have been allocated made known to governments and export promotion bodies of exporting countries upon request? If not, for what reason? (Indicate products to which replies relate.)
Q6.IV. From the time of announcing the opening of quotas, as indicated in I above, what is the period of time allowed for the submission of applications for licences?
Q6.V. What are the minimum and maximum lengths of time for processing applications?
Q6.VI. How much time remains, at a minimum, between the granting of licences and the date of opening of the period of importation?
Q6.VII. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
Q6.VIII. If the demand for licences cannot be fully satisfied, on what basis is the allocation to applicants made? First come, first served? Past performance? Is there a maximum amount to be allocated per applicant and, if so, on what basis is it determined? What provision is made for new importers? Are applications examined simultaneously or on receipt?
Q6.IX. In the case of bilateral quotas or export restraint arrangements where export permits are issued by exporting countries, are import licences also required? If so, are licences issued automatically?
Q6.X. In cases where imports are allowed on the basis of export permits only, how is the importing country informed of the effect given by the exporting countries to the understanding between the two countries?
Q6.XI. Are there products for which licences are issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic market?
Q7. Where there is no quantitative limit on importation of a product or on imports from a particular country:
Q7.a. How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made? Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence (for example, owing to inadvertency)?
Under the VPA a FLEGT licence is issued by the partner country before a shipment is exported. A UK importer of such a shipment does not need to apply for an import licence from the UK competent authority. A UK importer shall lodge the original FLEGT licence, as issued at the time of export of the shipment from the partner country, for acceptance and verification with the UK competent authority (Office for Product Safety and Standards).
If justified and subject to verification that the shipment meets the relevant conditions, it is generally possible for a FLEGT licence to be re-issued by the partner country in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Q7.b. Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
The procedures established by the partner country determine whether a license can be granted immediately upon request or not.
Q7.c. Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made? If so, explain.
There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and/or importation may be made.
Q7.d. Is consideration of licence applications effected by a single administrative organ? Or must the application be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval? If so, which? Does the importer have to approach more than one administrative organ?
As indicated above, licenses are issued by the exporting country and not by the UK. Prior to export the importer should be provided with a FLEGT license which they share with UK Competent Authority for verification, after which HMRC clearance hub matches to relevant customs checks on arrival, but prior to release for free circulation.
Q8. Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria? Are the reasons for any refusal given to the applicant? Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence and, if so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
The issuance of a licence is the responsibility of the partner country; the procedures in case of refusal are therefore subject to the partner countries' rules**.**
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for Licence
Q9. Are all persons, firms and institutions eligible to apply for licences: (If not, is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation? What persons or firms are eligible? Is there a registration fee? Is there a published list of authorized importers?) a) under restrictive licensing systems? b) under non-restrictive systems?
There are no import licenses for FLEGT; only the exporting partner country, e.g., Indonesia, can issue a FLEGT license for export to the UK. However, the UK importer will need to pay a fee of £9.60 to the UK Competent Authority for verification of the FLEGT licence.
Documentational and Other Requirements for Application for Licence
Q10. What information is required in applications? Submit a sample form. What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
The information required to apply for a FLEGT licence is set out in the FLEGT VPA and is subject to the rules of the exporting partner country. The format of the FLEGT licence is set out in an Annex of each FLEGT VPA. A UK importer needs to lodge the original of the FLEGT licence to the UK competent authority and the relevant copy with HMRC clearance hub.
Q11. What documents are required upon actual importation?
A FLEGT licence is cross referenced to the customs declaration for release for free circulation.
Q12. Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge? If so, what is the amount of the fee or charge?
The licensing fee is £9.60.
Q13. Is there any deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issue of licences? If so, state the amount or rate, whether it is refundable, the period of retention and the purpose of the requirement.
Not applicable as the UK does not issue the licences.
Conditions of Licensing
Q14. What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity of a licence be extended? How?
The period of validity of FLEGT licences from a given partner country is set out in the corresponding bilateral FLEGT VPA. The validity can be extended by the issuing country upon request if adequately justified.
Q15. Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
No, there is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence.
Q16. Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
The licences are not transferable between importers. The FLEGT licence does name the importer; the name of the importer on the FLEGT licence can however be amended by the issuing country upon request if adequately justified.
Q17. Are any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence? a) for products subject to quantitative restriction? b) for products not subject to quantitative restriction?
Evidence of compliance with relevant legislation, as set out in the relevant FLEGT VPA.
Other Procedural Requirements
Q18. Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
No other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation. All other usual import requirements still apply.
Q19. Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported? Is a licence required as a condition to obtaining foreign exchange? Is foreign exchange always available to cover licences issued? What formalities must be fulfilled for obtaining the foreign exchange?
No foreign exchange control.