Asia Pulp & Paper Group (APP) has received the SVLK timber legality certification on its ninth and final mill
The paper producer claims that this is significant for APP as it is the first Indonesian business to achieve fully SVLK compliance, placing it at a competitive advantage for trading with the UK and the EU more broadly.
SVLK is the Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System. According to APP, the new system creates a more rigorous chain of custody process designed to ensure the mills only receive and process timber from legal sources, and that all products exported from the country are traceable to verifiable points of origin.
The final certification was received by APP's Pindo Deli Perawang mill on 7 November 2012, following the certification of eight other mills since July of this year and ahead of its target of being wholly certified by January 2013.
Legal imports
Aida Greenbury, managing director sustainability & stakeholder engagement, APP said: "100% compliance has always been our aim and we're delighted to have achieved this.
"As new requirements in the US and Europe show, the market is demanding proof that all products are from legal, verifiable and traceable sources.
"In addition to fulfilling these legal requirements, we are implementing an ambitious sustainability program which includes ensuring no deforestation in the supply chain by 2015, as detailed in our Sustainability Roadmap Vision 2020."
Speaking to PN, Liz Wilks, European stakeholder and sustainability manager at Asia Pulp & Paper, said: "This new certification means that APP and Indonesia will be recognised, on a legislative level, by the European Commission as importing legal fibre products."
SVLK has an important role to play in helping Indonesian companies meet the new European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR), according to APP.
In April 2011, Indonesia and the European Union (EU)agreed on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) under the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan.
According to APP, under this voluntary agreement, the design of SVLK is recognized as the credible system to guarantee the legality of timber from Indonesia. This VPA between the EU and Indonesia is expected to become operational in 2013.
Dr. Ir. Dwi Sudharto, M.Si, Ministry of Forestry director of forest product processing and marketing development, said: "As the national timber legality standard, SVLK provides assurance to global markets that all Indonesian wood-based products are traceable to their legal origin.
"Our standards are recognized internationally and facilitate the export of our products around the world. This would not be possible without multi-stakeholder support. APP has been a strong supporter of this program from the start and we congratulate it on the achievement of having all its mills certified."
