This Decree is a consolidated legal decree issued by Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, establishing and refining the Vietnam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS). It integrates amendments from Decree No. 102/2020/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 120/2024/NĐ-CP, aligning Vietnam’s timber trade regulations with international agreements such as the EU-Vietnam Voluntary Partnership Agreement and the Vietnam-US agreement on illegal timber trade. The Decree outlines the legal framework for ensuring timber legality across the supply chain—from import, export, harvesting, and processing to trading. It defines legal timber, FLEGT licensing procedures, and enterprise classification criteria, distinguishing between fully compliant (Group I) and non-compliant (Group II) entities. Timber importers and exporters must adhere to strict documentation and customs procedures, including risk-based assessments by species and origin.
The Decree also mandates independent evaluations of VNTLAS implementation, conducted semi-annually and annually, by legally recognized organizations not involved in the timber trade.