English
Thailand: Wood export rules revisited
The government is considering extending its grip on the exports of wood products and mai khud lom — trees grown to a certain size and dug from the ground to be replanted in other places for landscaping — to build confidence of trading partners and increase shipments.
Adul Chotinisakorn, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said shipments of the two product types may need to secure export licences or certificates from the Royal Forest Department and the Foreign Trade Department.
Export licences are required only for shipments of timber, processed woods and charcoal.
“The department is looking at revising the ministerial regulations on the import and export of wood and wood products for compliance with the trading environment and the government’s policy on promoting high-value trees,” Mr Adul said.
He said the department is also revising the ministerial rules on the import of wood and wood products by adding conditions that imported products have to come with a certificate or document of origin.
The new requirements will help build confidence of trading partners that the wood products or timber they import or buy have legitimate origins, Mr Adul said.
He said the Commerce Ministry’s existing regulations on the import of wood and wood products have been enforced since 1992, but the global wood trading situation has changed drastically since.
Many countries have prioritised the provenance of wood and demanded certificates of origin to curb forest encroachment and deforestation.
Under the new regulations, Mr Adul said the Commerce Ministry will possibly empower the Royal Forest Department to function as the single unit granting export certificates or licences for exporters’ convenience.
“Wood is a sensitive product, concerning several state units on national security, economics, and natural resources and environment,” he said. “Any new measures need to be considered by all related parties. The department will organise a public hearing on this issue in the first quarter of this year.”
The Foreign Trade Department said imports of wood and wood products totalled 14.9 billion baht in the first 10 months of 2018, up 6% from the year-earlier period. Most of the imports were processed wood, plywood/veneer wood, wood products and timber.
Key sources were China, Malaysia, New Zealand, Myanmar and Vietnam.
The export value of Thailand’s wood and wood products for the same period totalled 80.5 billion baht, down 11% year-on-year. Most exports were of processed wood, fibreboard and plywood, bound for key markets in China, South Korea and Japan.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1604970/wood-export-rules-revisited