Guidance on Export of Artificially Planted Timber Abroad

Article 1

Types of exported plantation timber and exporters. (a) Types of exported plantation timber. Plantation timber exported abroad refers to plantation timber and its products as stipulated in the "Agreement on the Recognition of the List of Exported Wood Products" recognized and promulgated by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in stages. (b) Exporters of plantation timber. 1. Categories of exporters. Exporters of plantation timber are divided into ordinary exporters and certified exporters: (1) Ordinary exporters, i.e., plantation timber processing factories, plantation forest companies, and import-export companies of plantation timber and its products established lawfully under Lao law; (2) Certified Exporters, i.e., exporters certified by the Department of Import and Export for compliance in timber source management and timber legality; certified exporters may enjoy facilitation when exporting timber abroad. 2. Conditions for applying to become a certified exporter: (1) Must engage in one of the following operations: 1.1 Operating plantation forests on an industrial scale with sustainable forest management; 1.2 Operating timber processing factories that process finished products using one hundred percent (100%) plantation timber; 1.3 Engaging in the trading of finished wood products produced from one hundred percent (100%) plantation timber; (2) Must have fully fulfilled obligations to the state in accordance with the law; (3) Must establish an import-export timber management and traceability system in accordance with the "Agreement on Import-Export Timber Management and Traceability" No. 0777/MOIC.DOF dated August 25, 2020. 3. Attachments for applying to become a certified exporter: The applicant must submit to the Department of Import and Export: (1) An application form in the format prescribed by the Department of Import and Export; (2) A copy of the enterprise registration certificate; (3) A copy of the business license; (4) A copy of the certificate of fulfillment of annual tax obligations still in effect; (5) A certificate of wood products produced within the factory issued by the industrial and handicraft department. 4. Consideration of applications to become a certified exporter: After receiving lawful and complete documents, the Department of Import and Export, in coordination with relevant departments, shall conduct an on-site inspection and prepare a record, to be completed within five working days. If the applicant meets all conditions, the Department of Import and Export shall approve and issue the certification certificate within two working days; if the applicant does not meet the conditions, the Department of Import and Export shall inform them immediately and state the reasons in the on-site inspection record. The list of certified exporters shall be published to relevant parties and the public via the Trade Border Information Center website (laotradeportal.gov.la) and the Department of Import and Export website (dimex.gov.la). 5. Validity period and renewal of the certified exporter certificate. The certified exporter certificate is valid for two years and may be renewed; renewal requires submission of documents as specified in Article 3 of this Agreement to the Department of Import and Export before the certificate expires.