19.12.2019
As part of this project, in agreement with CLFT and the private sector in the Republic of Congo, ATIBT Congo conducted a plea on the SVL procedure to cancel and revoke the legality certificate.
The FAO-EU FLEGT Programme supports the implementation of the FLEGT Action Plan by improving forest governance, providing technical assistance and capacity building through project financing in eligible countries. In pursuit of this objective, the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme signed a contract with ATIBT Congo on 25 June 2018, No. 333725 FAO-ATIBT, for the implementation of the project entitled « Structured participation of the Congolese private sector in the preparation of VPA/FLEGT regulatory texts and technical documents ».
The procedure for the cancellation and withdrawal of the legality certificate has been developed by the Forest Legality and Traceability Unit (CLFT), this procedure has been validated internally but not at the level of the Committee for the Evaluation and Validation of Procedures (CEVP), the structure authorised to validate procedures. Private sector contributions were missing.
In this context, an expert was recruited by the Maximim MBOULAFINI project to carry out the private sector consultation activity.
A summary note on the procedure in question was produced and shared with companies in the Republic of Congo.
A telephone interview and email exchanges were held with companies in North Congo and a consultation meeting was held in Pointe Noire on November 30, 2019 in the CRDPI meeting room.
During this event 8 companies were present. 13 observations were made by the private sector on the 16 indicators of the procedure. In addition, out of 10 indicators in cancellation status, the private sector suggested replacing the status of 3 cancellation indicators with withdrawal status.
Subsequently, a meeting to present the private sector’s arguments to the CLFT was held on 4 December 2019. The FLEGT Facilitator was also present at this meeting.
This event allowed the expert to present the concerns of the private sector and to discuss with the CLFT the procedure that is the subject of this mission.
The CLFT has taken note of the recommendations of the private sector and must now work internally to finalize this procedure. CLFT requests the assistance of ATIBT in the future validation process of this procedure. The next step is the meeting of the Committee for the Evaluation and Validation of Procedures (CEVP).
“The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of ATIBT and can in no way be taken to reflect the position of FAO, the EU, DFID and SIDA“
