On Thursday 26 July 2012, the Mission of Thailand to the European Union and the Royal Forest Department organized a Stakeholder Meeting on “EU Timber Regulation – Impact and Strategies for Thai Timber Exports to the EU” at 09.00-13.00 hrs. at Kamolthip Room, The Sukosol Hotel (formerly The Siam City Hotel). Ambassador Apichart Chinwanno delivered the opening remarks and Mr. Prayut Lorsuwansiri, Deputy Director General, Royal Forest Department gave the keynote speech “The EU’s FLEGT: Challenges and Opportunities for Thailand.”
The seminar aimed to (1) inform relevant stakeholders, both public and private sectors in Thailand, on the EU Timber Regulation and its latest development and implementation; (2) share first-hand experience from the European private sector on how to comply with this regulation; and (3) to provide a forum for discussion among relevant Thai stakeholders in order to find a way forward for Thailand to comply with the EU’s relevant laws and regulation. The seminar was well-attended by 120 participants from the public and private sectors, and academia from Bangkok and other regions in Thailand.
Presentations included (1) “Updates on the EU’s FLEGT and the EU’s Timber Regulation” by Ms. Svetlana Atanasova, Legal Officer, DG Environment, European Commission, Brussels; (2) “Preparations for FLEGT VPA negotiations in Thailand and Next Steps” by Dr. Alexander Hinrichs, Regional Advisor, EU FLEGT Facility/Asia Programme, European Forest Institute (EFI); (3) “European Private Sector’s Views on the Implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and Due Diligence System” by Mr. Bart De Turck, Secretary General, Belgian Federation of Wood Importers; (4) “IKEA’s Views on the Implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and Due Diligence System” by Mr. Alexey Naumov, Forestry Coordinator, IKEA and (5) “Thai Private Sector’s Views on the Implementation of the EU Timber Regulation and Due Diligence System” by Mr. Jirawat Tangkijngamwong, Secretary General, The Thai Furniture Industries Association.
